Tuesday’s wet weather took a dangerous turn in the late afternoon when a landslide closed the Hilo-bound lane of Highway 19 at Pukihae Street, just north of Singing Bridge. ADVERTISING Tuesday’s wet weather took a dangerous turn in the late
Tuesday’s wet weather took a dangerous turn in the late afternoon when a landslide closed the Hilo-bound lane of Highway 19 at Pukihae Street, just north of Singing Bridge.
There were no reported injuries and drivers were asked to use Wainaku Street as an alternate route.
The lane was reopened by 5:15 p.m. after the roadway was cleared of debris.
Outbound traffic was still proceeding from Hilo, said Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno, despite rocks covering the southbound part of the highway.
Hilo received two periods of rain falling at a pace of an inch or 2 per hour, first in the morning and again in the afternoon.
National Weather Service meteorologist Ian Morrison said the rain seemed to stop and the weather looked like it would mellow out.
But by afternoon, “all of a sudden, it’s back on you guys,” he said.
The Tuesday commutes were soggy, especially in Hilo. A flood advisory continued throughout the day and into the evening for Hilo, Pahoa, Mountain View, Paradise Park and Glenwood.
“It seems to be focused a little more on the Hilo side, for some reason,” Morrison said.
It wasn’t runoff from pooling street flows that hit Hilo Surplus Store. Rather, staff had to clean up after the incomplete roof leaked.
Owner Tim Beatty’s preferred green roofing wasn’t in stock. Thus, the roof hadn’t been finished before Tuesday’s rain.
But Beatty said it should be done by February’s end and “our building is kind of built to handle the runoff.”
Thus, just like Hilo’s forecast, drier days should be ahead for Hilo Surplus Store.
Hilo received 3.79 inches of rain in the 24 hours that ended at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday. It probably received a couple of inches more Tuesday afternoon, Morrison said. Most of the rain, 3.51 inches, fell from 8 p.m. Monday through 8 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service reported.
Pahoa, in the same 24 hours, got just 0.75 of an inch while Saddle Quarry received 8.46 inches.
Matthew Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, predicted skies will begin clearing today.
“By Hilo standards, there could still be some lingering clouds and precipitation,” he said.
Foster said mountain summits got mostly rain. Morrison said fog started to form early but cleared and the roads were icy.
Trade winds and lingering moisture from a stalled weather front caused the heavy rain in Hilo and surrounding areas, according to Foster.
The weather system was “just kind of anchoring” over Hilo, he said, causing more rain to fall in the area than otherwise might have.
He said winds will lighten up by Thursday and Hilo likely will see sunny skies from then until Saturday, with a return of showers Sunday.
For boaters and surfers, a high surf advisory was in effect for east shores Tuesday. A swell should peak Wednesday, subside Thursday and rebuild Friday through the weekend. However, much of Friday’s swell, Foster said, should miss the Big Island.
As Sunday progresses, he said, “expect showers to increase.”
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
