Heavy showers muscled their way over Kauai on Monday, drenching the island and prompting a flood advisory as radar lit up with intense cells over the north shore. Forecasters warned that rapid runoff could quickly lead to ponding on roadways and fast rises in streams and low-lying trails. The advisory was scheduled to expire in the mid-afternoon, though officials cautioned it could be extended if more strong bands rolled through.
The alert first surfaced in local coverage, with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporting that radar showed the heaviest downpours near Wainiha, where some spots were seeing rain on the order of an inch or two per hour. The outlet noted that minor flooding could affect roads, hiking trails and poorly drained neighborhoods across the island.
Flood advisory details from the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued the advisory at 12:17 p.m. HST, keeping it in effect until 3:15 p.m. HST for the entire island of Kauai, according to National Weather Service Honolulu. The bulletin listed communities from Kekaha and Princeville to Kilauea and Haena among the areas at risk and said additional moderate to locally heavy showers were expected to hang around through the afternoon.
High tides could push water onto beaches and roads
The weather service also kept a Coastal Flood Statement in place for the state, warning of “minor coastal flooding on all islands during high tides today,” according to National Weather Service Honolulu. The statement said peak monthly high tides, combined with higher-than-predicted water levels, could push water onto normally dry beaches and into vulnerable low-lying roadways later in the day, especially around the late-afternoon high tide.
What residents and visitors should do
Officials urged residents and visitors to steer clear of streams, drainage ditches and other low-lying spots, and to avoid driving through moving or standing floodwater. Local reporting from Kauai Now also echoed guidance to move valuables to higher ground, secure small boats and other small craft, and keep a close eye on county alerts and National Weather Service updates as conditions evolve.
