LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i was blanketed with rain, wind, thunder and lightning Saturday as a weather front made its way over the western islands. “They said there was a possibility of hail,” Ron Wiley said at the Garden Fair at Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i was blanketed with rain, wind, thunder and lightning Saturday as a weather front made its way over the western islands.
“They said there was a possibility of hail,” Ron Wiley said at the Garden Fair at Kaua‘i Community College. “I just got my roof fixed from the last hail, and now I might need to have it done again.”
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, and as weather conditions deteriorated, the watch was extended.
An hour following the issuing of the thunderstorm watch, the Kekaha Landfill closed due to lightning in the area. The facility remains closed until further notice.
Greenwaste was stopped for Saturday due to the severe weather conditions. Additionally, Hanapepe Refuse Transfer Station is not accepting scrap metal. All other transfer stations remain open as scheduled.
“They canceled the soccer games,” said Kathleen Cadiente, a student with Kaua‘i Community College’s hospitality program. “But the Kaua‘i Special Olympics kids continued their competition, even if the rains came down.”
The Kaua‘i Soccer Association weekly games were called due to the lightning, which preceded claps of thunder at the North Vidinha fields.
“My daughter Kiara called from Waimea to say the matches for today were canceled due to the weather,” said Nadine Tamayose, a representative from Wisteria Lane flooring at the Contractors Association of Kaua‘i home show. “They were at Waimea and she doesn’t have any idea when they’re making up the games. They have qualifying matches coming up Friday at Kiahuna, though.”
Similarly, the tennis courts at Kaua‘i Community College were deserted at the noon hour when Island School was scheduled to host Kaua‘i High School.
The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation softball game at Isenberg, scheduled to start at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, was also scrubbed. The KIF baseball doubleheader at Ron Martin Field in Kapa‘a was postponed after 2 1/2 innings of game one.
The National Weather Service states chances of thunderstorms and heavy rain will continue over the western islands of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu into early next week due to a cold front moving in from the west. Light to moderate trade winds are set to return Wednesday and continue through the remainder of the week.
The state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the Kalalau Trail Friday and it remained closed as of press time.
Visit www.prh.noaa.gov for more information.
