The return of tradewinds last night was predicted to change the pattern of heavy rainfall that stalled over Kauai yesterday and brought thunder and an evening downpour to Central Oahu.

A rain gauge at Kapahi on Kauai registered more than 2 inches of rain per hour late yesterday as the National Weather Service posted a flood advisory for the Garden Island.

A flood advisory for Oahu was lifted last night, but a flash-flood warning remained in effect for the state until 6 a.m. today.

“;It's really rocking here right now,”; said Sgt. Eli Walters at the Wahiawa police station last night. “;There are pockets of heavy thunderstorms when drivers need to use extreme caution; even the speed limit can be dangerous.”; Walters said the heavy rain was a factor in an afternoon accident that sent a man to the Queen's Medical Center in stable condition. A bicyclist slipped on wet pavement in Wahiawa and was injured when he struck the pavement.

“;With the tradewinds coming in, showers don't stick around for long in one spot,”; said National Weather Service lead forecaster Sam Houston. Rain is likely for the rest of the week in windward and mountain areas, but “;it won't be something sitting and dumping for two hours in a row producing flooding,”; Houston said.

Heavy rainfall Tuesday night was attributed to a trough northwest of Kauai that continued passing north of the state last night. On Oahu, the heaviest precipitation was concentrated over the Koolaus, with Wilson Tunnel receiving 9.16 inches in the 24-hour period ending at 2 p.m. yesterday. Gauges registered 5 inches in upper Nuuanu, 4.91 inches at Waihee pump in Kahaluu, 4.15 inches in Ahuimanu Loop and 3.66 inches at Maunawili.

On Kauai, 4.58 inches was recorded on Mount Waialeale and 4.06 inches in Lihue in the same period.