Hawaii braces for inches of torrential rain and flash flooding just weeks after life-threatening Kona lows
This comes as many areas are still recovering from back-to-back storms, which left homes and roads damaged by feet of water and mud.
Hawaii braces for another Kona Low that is expected to cause inches of rain and intense wind gusts
Another Kona Low is set to slam parts of Hawaii later this week, bringing inches of rain and gusty winds. This comes just weeks after back-to-back powerful Kona Lows caused life-threatening floods and widespread damage throughout the islands.
Another round of heavy rain, gusty winds and potential flooding is heading toward Hawaii, following powerful back-to-back Kona low storms that caused record-breaking rainfall, life-threatening floods and widespread damage across the islands.
NEW HAWAII BEACH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR HIGH BACTERIA AFTER HISTORIC FLOODING
This comes as many areas are still recovering from the earlier storms, which left homes and roads damaged by feet of water and mud.
FILE: Kona lows bring heavy rain, devastating floods to Hawaii, leaving behind destruction
Flooding across Hawaii was brought on by two Kona low systems that dumped massive amounts of rain across the islands, with some areas seeing a year's worth of rain totals in just a few days. FOX Weather's Robert Ray is on the island of Maui with a look at the damage:
Numerous communities were evacuated due to the Flash Flood Emergency, including Waialua and Haleiwa on Oahu's northern shore.
Residents told FOX Weather that people were forced to shelter on their roof to avoid the raging floodwaters.
This graphic displays the significant rainfall Honolulu, Hawaii, received in March, surpassing the monthly average.
(FOX Weather)
Some areas, including Kane’ohe and Pu’u Ali’i, experienced over 38 inches of rainfall in just a few days.
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Image 1 of 5Madison Nahooikaika is in the background looking for items lost during the flooding, while in the foreground, her boyfriend, Nuutea Vanbastolaer, and a neighbor shovel out mud, in Haleiwa, Hawaii, on March 21, 2026. ( /San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
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Image 2 of 5Glenn Duquez, associate pastor at the Church of God Jesus is Alive Fellowship, carries a lamp into the mud-riddled church building to clean up after the fast-moving flood in Haleiwa, Hawaii Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
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Image 3 of 5Two teenagers surf next to a disabled vehicle in flood water in Waialua, Hawaii Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Photo by ) (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
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![Major debris slide on Kamehameha V Highway in Molokai Sunday.]()
Image 5 of 5Major debris slide on Kamehameha V Highway in Molokai Sunday. (Hawaii DOT/Facebook)
One Wahiawa resident, David Fuga, told FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray that some neighbors were completely devastated by the flooding.
"Mud up to 5 feet in their homes, lost all of their belongings," Fuga said.
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Governor Josh Green called it the worst flood the state had seen in 20 years and estimated that the storms could potentially cost up to $1 billion in damages.
(FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the next round of rain is expected to organize by midweek.
The next Kona low will tap into moisture and strengthen the southerly winds, which will likely cause strong thunderstorms and inches of heavy rain across areas that have already experienced intense rainfall.
(FOX Weather)
The new storm system has the potential to become severe if all the ingredients are aligned, including gusty down slope winds that may worsen as the low-pressure system gets closer to the islands.
Next 7-day forecast for Kahului, Hawaii
The FOX Forecast Center will have a clearer picture of the storm’s intensity by Thursday.
Coast Guard helicopter crews perform rescues as historic flooding inundates Hawaii
Historic flooding swamps Hawaii, turning roads into rivers and trapping residents. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy carried out multiple aerial rescues, lifting people to safety as life-threatening conditions put homes and property at risk.
That said, even though some of the region has seen a few weeks of drier weather, the ground is still unable to absorb much additional rainfall.
Officials worry that even moderate rain could trigger more flash floods, runoff and rising streams in regions that were already hit the hardest by the recent storms.
Next 7-day forecast for Honolulu, Hawaii
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates on Hawaii’s next storm system.