A Friday evening downpour brought significant rainfall to East Hawaii, but precipitation totals remain well below historical averages.
One rain gauge at Piihonua measured more rainfall in the 24-hour period beginning Friday afternoon than it did in the entire month of February, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
The Hilo International Airport rain gauge recorded just under an inch of precipitation, which represents 20 percent of annual rainfall at the site.
By this time of year, that same site has typically recorded about 23 inches of rain.
“Last year, on this date, we had nearly 16 inches of rain (there),” NWS meteorologist Tom Birchard said Saturday. “So even last year being a little below normal, you still had 16 inches.”
The low precipitation rates are part of the ongoing statewide El Nino-related drought, Birchard said.
Hydrologist Kevin Kodama wrote in a February weather report that the worst drought impacts in the state that month were found on the leeward sides of the Big Island and Maui.
The lack of rain has affected all of Hawaii Island, though, making Friday and Saturday’s showers a welcome change.
“This is a nice bonus for people on catchment over there on the windward side,” Birchard said. Some of the rain made it up to Maui as well; one gauge there recorded 2 inches in 24 hours.
The rain came after a block of moisture about 100 miles south of the island broke off from the main feature and was picked up by the trade winds.
A cold front that moved over East Hawaii earlier this week also pulled in more moisture.
The main moisture block is expected to drift northward in the coming days. With winds shifting to the southeast, more rainfall should arrive Monday night, affecting not only the Hilo area but parts of Ka‘u.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
