TO UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.
Kauai County said both lanes of the Kuhio Freeway are open as of 10:30 a.m. near the Hanalei Bridge.
A flood watch remains in effect for all islands through this afternoon.
Niihau and Kauai are also under a wind advisory until 6 pm today.
The Kauai Water Department has issued a water conservation request from Hanalei to Haena until further notice, due to power outages and severe weather conditions occurring in the area.
“Customers are advised to limit water use to only essential needs, such as cooking, drinking, or using sanitation, to avoid a complete interruption of water service,” the department said in an advisory. “Additional water conservation measures include turning off appliances and fixtures that automatically draw water, such as ice machines and sprinkler systems.”
The National Weather Service also issued a winter storm warning for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii, effective until 6:00 pm today.
Weather officials say humidity and freezing temperatures over the peaks will bring the possibility of snow and freezing rain throughout the day. Two to four inches of additional snow is expected.
Travel to the peaks could be very difficult or impossible and should be postponed until the threat subsides.
A high surf advisory also remains in effect for the north and west coasts of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai; for the northern shores of Maui; and the eastern shores of Kauai, until 6:00 p.m. today.
Swells of 14 to 18 feet are expected along the north shore of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai, and 12 to 16 feet along the north shore of Maui.
Swells of 10 to 14 feet are expected along the western shores of Kauai.
The public should heed all advice from ocean safety officials.
In addition, health officials have issued a brown water advisory for the northern shores of Kauai, from Kee Beach to Kalihiwai Bay.
THE PRESENT DAY
Although a previous flash flood warning for the island of Kauai has expired, a flood watch remains in effect through this afternoon for all islands as the state expects frequent showers with a chance of thunderstorms today.
As of 5:31 a.m., radar and rain gauges showed heavy rain over north Kauai at rates of up to 1 inch per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Although river and stream flows are still high, they have stopped rising or are slowly falling.
A single lane of the Kuhio Expressway in Hanalei has reopened after flooding forced its closure. Forecasters said more rain might be possible in the morning.
Weather officials are warning Kauai visitors and residents to stay away from creeks, rivers, drainage ditches, and culverts, even if they are currently dry.
Meanwhile, the upper level low pressure system to the west of the islands will combine with a nearby shallow trough and threatens to bring heavy rainfall to all islands, possibly leading to flash flooding.
Windy conditions also persist, with northeasterly winds 15 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph for Kauai, and easterly winds 10 to 25 mph for the rest of the state.
Although a flood watch for all islands is in effect through this afternoon, the chance of heavy rain will gradually decrease tonight and Tuesday as winds weaken for the rest of the week, forecasters said. The trade winds could possibly return by the end of the week.
