GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Inclement weather didn't put a damper on yesterday's sunset wedding for Scott and Pam Stevenson of Vancouver, B.C., as they kissed under an umbrella on the beach at Waikiki.
More rain expected
tomorrow nightThe showers won’t be as heavy
as this past week, forecasters say
The sun might peek through the heavy clouds today and tomorrow, but another weather system may bring more rain on Sunday night, meteorologists said.
However, weather forecasters said the rain will not be as heavy as this past week.
"It'll look more like tradewind showers and not thunderstorms," said National Weather Service lead forecaster Roy Matsuda. "Compared to (yesterday), it'll look minor."
A low-pressure system brought heavy rains and thunderstorms to all islands except the Big Island yesterday. A flash-flood watch was in effect through last night, though forecasters expected to cancel it by 4 a.m. today.
"By the time people wake up, the watch should be over with," Matsuda said. "And there's a good chance of the sun poking out in the afternoon."
Yesterday's thunderstorms caused some traffic problems on Maui and Oahu. In Kihei, police said a lightning strike shorted out a traffic light at the intersection of Piilani Highway and Kilohana Drive at about 7 p.m.
And on Oahu, firefighters said the rain might have been a factor in two accidents, both in Central Oahu along Kamehameha Highway.
The first was a car that took out utility poles near Whitmore Village at 2:43 p.m., causing the pole to block traffic in both directions.
Hawaiian Electric Co. officials said though the incident caused no power outages, workers would not be able to clear the pole until midnight, and even then only one lane of traffic would be open for contraflow.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Yesterday afternoon's downpour had these bus riders huddling for shelter on Beretania Street near Bishop Street.
The other weather-related traffic accident took place near Waikalani Drive in Waipio, where a car went into a nearby ditch, injuring two women at 7:30 p.m.
Emergency medical workers said a 34-year-old woman was in critical condition and a 19-year-old woman was in serious condition. Both victims were taken to the Queen's Medical Center for treatment.
"There's a possibility that wet roads may have contributed to those accidents," said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane.
There was another accident in the Waianae-bound lanes of the H-1 freeway near Kapolei. A 3-year-old boy was listed in serious condition and also taken to the Queen's Medical Center. It is unknown whether rain was the factor in that crash.
Matsuda said the first three months of 2004 have been much wetter than usual. He said Oahu sees an average of 7.96 inches of rain for January, February and March.
He said so far this year, an average of 15.72 inches of rain has fallen.
"That's about double of the historical average over the last 30 years," Matsuda said.
It was bad timing for returning Hawaii residents and those visiting on spring break.
"I was hoping to go to the beach, but I guess not," said Bonnie Abe, Iolani graduate and University of Southern California senior. "It's still warmer than California right now, though."
For Waikiki workers, this week's overcast skies and frequent rain has tourists asking them the same question over and over again.
What's up with the weather?
"Everyone has been asking and kind of expecting us to do something about it," said Tiki's Grill & Bar manager Tina Scotty. "We're blaming them, that they brought it with them."
