HONOLULU (KHON2) — A powerfukl low pressure system currently northwest of the Hawaiian Islands could bring strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms to the islands though late Friday. Heavy rain and thunderstorms could impact all islands through late Friday. In addition to the potential for thunderstorms, strong south or southwest winds may impact the state will downed trees and isolated power outages.
NOTE: Recent weather modeling is showing this storm slowing down or stalling near Maui. This could extend the time of heavy rain in a small area, increasing the flash flooding threat. All islands will see heavy rain, but there is a chance that rain over or near Maui may persist longer and may be heavier. Please check back for updates as this is subject to change.
The threat of heavy rain will diminish this weekend.
Wind: Strong southerly winds will develop tonight, becoming even stronger on Thursday and affecting the entire state. Winds will gradually weaken from west to east starting Friday. High Wind Warnings are in effect for some islands, and warnings are expected to be issued for other areas.
Thunderstorms: Unstable air will arrive overnight, increasing the chance of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, waterspouts, and possibly tornadoes. A Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Watch may be issued.
Flooding: Heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding. A Flood Watch is in effect for the entire state.
Snow: Heavy snow is expected on the Big Island summits. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect, and a Winter Storm Warning is likely to be issued.
The weather will gradually improve from northwest to southeast starting Friday. Some showers may linger near the Big Island through Saturday night. Cooler, drier air will arrive over the weekend.