Pedestrians in rainy Paia navigate around a large puddle at the intersection of Baldwin Avenue and Hana Highway on Saturday afternoon. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
The Maui News – Heavy rains closed down Honoapiilani Highway and a flash-flood warning was issued for the island of Maui on Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
The road was shut down between North Kihei Junction and Papalaua Wayside Park, police spokesman Lt. Gregg Okamoto confirmed. Okamoto said there were rocks and flooding across the roadway, but had no immediate details on the size or depth.
At 7:27 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service announced a flash-flood warning for Maui until 10:30 p.m. A flash-flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads and low-lying areas.
Rain was falling at a rate of one to two inches per hour, and additional flash flooding was expected until the rains subsided. Sunday night’s road closure followed a weekend of rainy weather. On Saturday, Kahului Airport recorded 1.67 inches of rainfall, breaking the previous record of 1.52 inches set in 2010, according to the National Weather Service.
Norman Hui, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said that Maui “might still see some wet weather” this week.
Raindrops collect on a succulent plant Thursday in Kihei. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
“The weather will improve compared to what you have right now, but there’s still a chance of showers Monday through Wednesday,” Hui said Sunday evening.
“It looks like the light tradewinds might be back briefly for the early part of the week through Wednesday,” Hui added.
Motorists plow through puddles on Hansen Road on Saturday afternoon. In the background is Puunene Mill, which is scheduled to cease sugar operations and also stop producing smoke and steam in the next few days. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
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