Hawaii braces for powerful kona storm bringing heavy rain and strong winds | Hawaii
Hawaii is bracing for a powerful storm this week that is expected to bring intense winds, thunderstorms and possibly significant flooding to several islands.
Josh Green, the governor, said Monday that he had issued an emergency proclamation in response to the weather expected to hit his state in the coming days, to bring additional resources to affected areas.
“It’s going to be a tough week because of the weather,” Green said in a video posted to social media. “Be very careful. Be especially careful on the roads.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) announced that a “significant and powerful kona storm” would bring heavy rain, causing flooding on small islands and urban areas, as well as potentially severe thunderstorms and gusty winds. It will first affect Kauai, Niihau and Oahu on Tuesday, before spreading to the other islands in the coming days.
Later in the week, the islands could experience even more damaging conditions, the governor’s office said in a statement.
The state closed several parks and trails in response to the forecast and urged people to avoid forested and coastal areas, citing the dangers of storm surges, high surf, rising rivers and falling trees.
“Our priority is keeping the people of Hawaii safe,” Green said.
A flood watch is in effect until Saturday, and the NWS said residents should prepare by identifying evacuation routes and shelters, and planning for pets and vulnerable family members.
An NWS meteorologist told the San Francisco Chronicle that the islands could see more than 20 inches of rain in some areas. “But that’s just a rough estimate,” Laura Farris said.
On the Big Island of Hawaii, Kilauea began erupting Tuesday, shooting fountains of lava up to 1,000 feet high and triggering warnings about falling glassy volcanic fragments and ash.
The fountains that began Tuesday morning marked the 43rd episode of the eruption since it began in December 2024. As at other times, the molten rock was confined to the summit crater of Kilauea, inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and did not threaten homes or buildings.
But the lava fountains were creating problems for nearby communities and a highway where volcanic fragments and ash, known as tephra, fell. The tephra led to temporary closures of the national park around the summit and a partial closure of Highway 11, a major road around the island, on either side of the park.
Hawaii County officials also opened a shelter at a district gymnasium for residents and tourists affected by the road closure or falling tephra. The National Weather Service issued an ash warning.
Volcanic tephra can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory system, according to county officials. Tephra can also clog and cause other problems with water catchment systems, which are common in parts of the Big Island, officials said.
Associated Press contributed to this report
