LIHUE — The windward side of the island should brace for more rain as Kauai moves into the wet season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday released the NOAA Wet Season Rainfall Outlook for the state, which runs
LIHUE — The windward side of the island should brace for more rain as Kauai moves into the wet season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday released the NOAA Wet Season Rainfall Outlook for the state, which runs from October through April.
“We’re looking at an uptick in the rainfall once we transition into spring,” said Kevin Kodama, with NOAA. “Depending on the intensity, it’s the windward sides that are going to be the primary recipient.”
Experts are still unsure as to the intensity of the impending la nina.
A strong la nina will consolidate the majority of the rainfall events to the windward sides of the islands. A weak la nina will allow for more of an even distribution of rain.
It’s the same challenge they experienced with the 2016-2017 wet season forecast, Kodama said.
“It was a tougher forecast last year because of the mixed signals,” he said. “Maybe it’s a little better this year, but because of the uncertainty on intensity, I don’t have that warm, fuzzy feeling.”
The 2016-2017 wet season yielded an average amount of rainfall, delivered through an erratic season. November was dry, the next month was wet, and it volleyed between the two extremes throughout the seven-month season.
The 2017 dry season — May through September — increased drought conditions on many of the islands, according to NOAA.
