A cold front over the Big Isle has brought a flash flood watch to the island until 6 p.m. tonight with some possible stormy weather continuing through the day.
“There’ll still be some showers around, but overall, the heavy stuff should be on the decrease. There is a chance for some thunderstorms in the afternoon,” National Weather Service Honolulu forecaster Genki Kino told the Tribune-Herald Monday afternoon, referring to today’s weather forecast.
The colder, rainier weather is the product of a low-pressure system combined with strong north and northeast winds, forecast to bring more rain in windward and mountain areas. These areas, especially around the Hamakua Coast, will see the greatest risk for flash flooding due to the overflow of streams and drainage ditches.
Roads in several areas might be closed, and there could be property damage in urban or low-lying spots due to runoff. Landslides might also occur in areas with steep terrain.
Expect a cold night, as well, in East Hawaii with the forecast low at 59 degrees.
Scattered showers remain in the forecast through the week, with afternoon highs in the lower 70s and overnight lows hovering at about 60 degrees.
“The next few days, it kind of quiets down, and we should be in a breezy trade wind pattern,” Kino said. “It might be a little wetter than your typical trade wind pattern, but overall, it shouldn’t be too bad.”
A large northwest swell moving eastward through the island chain brought advisory-level surf to the north- and west-facing shores of the Big Island. That surf was expected to diminish in the overnight hours leading into today. As of press time, the high surf advisory was effective until 6 a.m. today.
“Surf-wise, it should be trending down,” Kino said. “For the north-facing shores, we still should have advisory-level surf. The angle (of the break) is from the north-northwest. … Hilo town should be relatively calm, but there might be some bigger stuff if you go towards Keaukaha.
“The trades will pick up over the weekend, so you could see some rising surf.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.