honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 24, 2009

Flood threat subsides on Kauai


Advertiser Staff

A flash-flood warning for Kaua'i expired last night, after the easing of heavy rains that prompted officials to close Kuhio Highway in Hanalei for much of the day.

The National Weather Service had extended a flash-flood warning for Kaua'i until 9:30 p.m. Rain is forecast for much of the state through tomorrow.

Both lanes of Kuhio Highway were reopened shortly before 8 p.m. yesterday. Flooding at the Hanalei bridge first prompted officials to close the road at 10:45 a.m. The road was reopened at 2:45 p.m., but was closed again about 4 p.m.

At 6:25 p.m. yesterday, radar showed that an area of heavy rainfall was nearly stationary about 50 miles south of Kaua'i.

The Hanalei bridge was still under water at that time, the weather service said. The Hanalei River was not rising, and standing water in the field of the valley was draining slowly.

The atmosphere was moist and unstable and the threat of heavy rains remained, the weather service said.

Meanwhile, a road crew from the state Department of Transportation cleared a mudslide on Kuhio Highway in the Kalihiwai area.

As of 8 p.m., the rain gauge at the Hanalei River had received 5.91 inches of rain in the preceding 24 hours.

Other areas of heavy rainfall included Mount Wai'ale'ale (5.57 inches), Princeville (4.76), Kapahi (4.58), Lihu'e (4.31) and 'Opaeka'a (4.22).