A “small disturbance” triggered thunderstorms yesterday, but a stronger front starting this morning will bring more showers and high winds to Kaua‘i and the rest of the state, National Weather Service forecasters are predicting. The front is forecast to continue
A “small disturbance” triggered thunderstorms yesterday, but a stronger front starting this morning will bring more showers and high winds to Kaua‘i and the rest of the state, National Weather Service forecasters are predicting.
The front is forecast to continue through the beginning of the weekend.
Yesterday was “just an appetizer, just a little disturbance that triggered showers and thunderstorms,” said Kevin Kodama, hydrologist with the National Weather Service. The entree begins today, he said.
“It’s a really strong front,” said Kodama. It was forecast to come in strong in the early morning hours today.
A flood watch, a flash flood watch, and a high-wind watch were issued by NWS forecasters yesterday in anticipation of the storm, which is expected to bring up to six inches of rain to parts of Kaua‘i by today.
A huge northwest swell, expected to produce 30-foot faces early Saturday, will also affect the island this weekend.
In anticipation of possible power outages due to the high winds, Anne Barnes, director of communication for Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, wanted to remind residents to call 246-8200 with any outage information, such as downed power lines, branches on lines, and any other incident information.
She also wanted to remind residents to unplug any sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, that can be effected by power surges from lightning, or power outages, and to keep a battery-operated radio at hand to stay tuned for up-to-the-minute outage information.
Barnes urged residents to seek shelter in a house or building, and stay away from windows, when lightning is observed.
South winds were expected to increase last night to 20 to 35 mph, and frequent wind gusts over 50 mph are possible today, Kodama said.
According to officials in the forecast office in Honolulu, a developing low-pressure system and cold front just west of the Hawaiian Islands will cause heavy showers and thunderstorms, with the heaviest of the rain coming today.
The two weather systems will produce intense rainfall and significant run-off that could cause localized flash flooding.
It is also expected to be chilly, with temperatures forecast only to reach the mid-seventies today, and expected to cool off into the lower sixties tonight.
By Saturday, the National Weather Service said, the storm will being to pull away, but unsettled weather is expected to continue into early next week.
By Thursday afternoon, a high-surf advisory was in effect for north- and west-facing shores, due to the rising swell.
NWS officials expected to issue a high-surf warning for the large swell later this afternoon or tonight.
A gale warning might also need to be issued for the high winds today.
State Department of Health officials issued a general health advisory yesterday, requesting the public stay out of streams, coastal, and standing water that may be contaminated by storm water and would usually appear brown or murky in color.
Storm water can contain harmful pathogens from overflowing cesspools or septic tanks, animal feces washed into streams and storm drains, and chemicals from polluted run-off.
A DOH spokesperson said that department and officials with various county agencies are continuing to monitor water quality, and are on the lookout for spills.
Staff Writer Tom Finnegan may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
