Hawaii is in the thick of it. A powerful Kona storm is bringing dangerous flooding, strong winds, and severe thunderstorms across all the islands. The National Weather Service is forecasting major flooding, damaging southerly winds and strong to severe thunderstorms across the state beginning today, March 12 and continuing through Saturday, March 14. If you're in Hawaii or heading there, this is something to take seriously.
The situation is intense. Slow-moving bands of thunderstorms could lead to large amounts of rainfall dropping without much time for drainage, increasing the threat of flash flooding. Heavier thundershowers were producing rainfall rates of up to 1.5 inches per hour, and some areas are already seeing significant damage. About 2,276 customers are without power on Oahu, with the majority in Mililani and Waipio, and customers in areas including Aina Haina, Hawaii Loa Ridge, Kailua, and Kaneohe also reporting outages. Additionally, the storms may produce wind gusts up to 50 mph capable of knocking down tree limbs and blowing around unsecured objects.
A travel advisory has been issued for Hawaiʻi Airports as severe weather conditions persist statewide, with the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation advising travelers to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to their scheduled departure time for transpacific flights and at least 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure time for interisland flights. Travelers should check with their airline on the status of their flight before heading to the airport. Many schools, courthouses, and state offices have also shut down through Friday. The storm is expected to ease by Saturday, but residents should stay alert until then and continue monitoring official weather updates from local authorities.