Powerful Kona Low to lash Hawaii with torrential rain, fierce winds, blizzard conditions, Flood Watches issued
A widespread flash flooding threat is possible across most of the islands, with 5–8 inches of rain expected and some areas potentially receiving over a foot by Saturday.
What is a Kona Low?
Hawaiian weather often brings to mind visions of abundant sunshine, but Kona Low storm systems frequently bring tremendous amounts of precipitation to the islands.
A powerful Kona Low is on its way to unleash heavy rain, damaging winds and even blizzard conditions across Hawaii’s mountain peaks through the upcoming weekend.
A widespread flash flooding threat is possible across most of the islands, with 5–8 inches of rain expected and some areas potentially receiving over a foot by Saturday.
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Flood Watches are in effect, with strong winds increasing the risk of power outages and blizzard conditions.
The strong Kona Low is set to bring numerous hazards across the islands this afternoon.
(FOX Weather)
Heavy rain will begin to move into Kauai and Oahu Tuesday night before spreading across the western end of the state into Wednesday.
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The FOX Forecast Center said the environment will become increasingly favorable for periods of heavy downpours and thunderstorms through a combination of potent upper-level forcing, deep tropical moisture and persistent southerly flow.
(FOX Weather)
By the latter half of the week, the heavy rain and flooding risks will expand, with a good chance for severe storms increasing Friday and Saturday.
PHOTOS: LANDSLIDE BLOCKS HIGHWAY AS SEVERE STORM DROPS MONUMENTAL AMOUNT OF RAIN IN HAWAII
A pickup truck plows through a flooded street in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 7, 2021, the morning after powerful winter tropical storm known as a Kona Low hit the Hawaii islands with heavy rain and high winds causing wide spread flooding and power outages across the state. - Hawaii's Governor David Ige issued a state of emergency for all of the states islandson December 6. The National Weather Service reports the threat of catastrophic flooding as the storm system slowly moves from east to west.
(EUGENE TANNER/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
A widespread flash flooding threat with 5–8 inches of rain is possible across most of the islands, with some areas potentially seeing over a foot of rain through Saturday, prompting Flood Watches across Niihau and Kauai through Saturday morning.
(FOX Weather)
As the atmospheric moisture levels are to remain relatively high, it will lead to storms capable of producing very heavy rainfall rates, heightening the flood risk.
The FOX Forecast Center also highlights the potential for landslides from this event.
In addition to the rain threat, strengthening south to southwest winds will develop as the pressure gradient tightens between the developing Kona Low and high pressure to the east.
FILE: Snow coated the roads on Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on Hawaii's Big Island Monday, as a storm known as a Kona Low dumped inches of snow across higher elevations.
(Derek Petrowski via Storyful / FOX Weather)
The setup could lead to damaging winds and localized downslope winds capable of downing trees and power lines.
With all that said, the summits of the Big Island will likely see periods of snow with significant accumulations through the weekend and, accompanied by the gusty winds, blizzard conditions remain possible at the summits into Friday and Saturday.