Thunderstorm advisory extended until midnight tonight

UPDATE: National Weather Service has updated the severe thunderstorm advisory until midnight tonight.

There could be severe thunderstorms in the Hilo and Puna areas for the next couple hours the National Weather Service said shortly before 4 p.m. today.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the state until 6 p.m., NWS Honolulu forecaster Robert Ballard said.

“At this point, I don’t think we’ll be extending it beyond that time,” Ballard said. “… There’s a also a flash flood watch that’s in effect because we’re concerned about very heavy rain from some of these downpours, locally really intense. They’re not going to be widespread; most people are probably not going to see rain. But where the rain does fall, it’s going to be pretty intense.”

Downtown Hilo was experiencing thunder and lightning at 4 p.m. and according to transmissions on the police scanner, there are some power outages in Hilo. Traffic lights are out at the intersections of Lanikaula Street and Kilauea Avenue and Lanikaula and Manono streets, as well. It’s not known at this point whether those outages are associated with lightning strikes.

A pre-recorded message from Hawaii Electric Light Co. said at 4:15 p.m. that outages include the Kanoelehua Industrial Area and Makaala, Holomua, Pookela Wiwoole and Kawili streets, Kawili Street and Kilauea and Kanoelehua avenues.

It is not known how long the outages will last, the message stated.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.