The island of Kauai in Hawaii was hit with torrential storms this week, leading to widespread flash flooding that caused chaos for residents. The deep area of low pressure brought heavy rain at a rate of 2-3 inches per hour, prompting Flash Flood Warnings across the island.
The severe weather conditions also led to a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, with the possibility of quarter-sized hail and strong wind gusts – a rare occurrence that hadn’t been seen in nearly 500 days. The Hawaii Department of Education made the decision to cancel classes and suspend bus services to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Multiple rescues were reported as cars and houses were inundated with floodwaters. Shelters were opened at neighborhood centers to provide refuge for those affected, though fortunately there were no reports of injuries.
The flooding led to numerous road closures as highways were blocked by standing water, rocks, and mud. Lihue Airport reported a staggering 11.74 inches of rain in just 9 hours, marking the fifth rainiest two-day stretch in the island’s history. The community of Kalaheo saw the most rainfall, with 12.51 inches accumulating in a span of 12 hours.
As residents began to clean up and assess the damage, there was little relief in sight as heavy rains and thunderstorms were expected to return to the island on Saturday night. The community braced themselves for more potential flooding and disruptions as they continued to navigate the aftermath of the powerful storms.
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