Update: High surf advisory canceled for north shores of Kauaʻi, Niʻihau

Update at 4:38 a.m. Feb. 1: The National Weather Service in Honolulu canceled the high surf advisory that was in place for the north shores of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.

Forecasters report that while multiple northwest and west swells will keep surf along northern shorelines slightly elevated, it will be below advisory levels.

Update at 5:02 p.m. Jan. 31: A new shorter-period northwest to north-northwest swell quickly filled in during the day today while the long-period north swell gradually faded.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu says surf should remain at advisory thresholds through tonight before likely falling below advisory levels Saturday.

A high surf advisory is now in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for the north shores of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, with large breaking waves forecast at 12 to 16 feet and strong currents making swimming and other ocean activities along those shorelines dangerous.

The public is advised to heed all advice from ocean safety officials. When in doubt, don’t go out.

Update at 2:35 a.m. Jan. 31: The National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu reports that wind speeds over Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau have diminished below warning levels. Therefore, the high wind warning that was previously put in place for both islands is canceled.

Flooding also is no longer expected to pose a threat on either island, so the National Weather Service canceled the flood watch that was previously in effect.

However, the Garden Isle wasn’t completely out of the woods as far as lingering impacts from a major winter storm that rolled through Thursday and continued into this morning.

Gusty showers were still expected over Kauaʻi through about 2:45 a.m.

National Weather Service doppler radar at 1:43 a.m. was tracking the showers near Polihale, or 21 miles west of Līhuʻe, as they moved east at 35 mph and producing wind gusts up to 50 mph.

Gusty winds that strong can still knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.

Locations impacted included Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, Kalāheo, Kekaha, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Mana, Alakaʻi Swamp Trails, Hanalei, Nā Pali State Park, ʻŌmaʻo, Barking Sands, Wainiha, North Fork Wailua Trails, Moloaʻa, Waimea, Wailua Homesteads, Wailua and Hanapēpē.

The public was advised if they were outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Update at 7:03 p.m. Jan. 30: A high surf advisory for north-facing shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau is now in effect through 6 p.m. Friday.

A long-period north swell will build rapidly tonight, peak early Friday, then gradually diminish. Additionally, a shorter-period northwest swell will arrive on Friday.

Update at 5:58 p.m. Jan. 30: A flood watch remains in effect for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau until 6 p.m. Friday as a major winter storm continues to push across the state.

A high wind warning also remains in effect for both islands until noon Friday, as south to southwest winds of 20 to 35 mph are forecast, with gusts of more than 60 mph.

Several power outages are ongoing around the island and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative crews are responding.

Kaua‘i County officials urge the public to remain vigilant as hazardous weather conditions continue.

Keep an eye on Kaua’i Now for the latest weather updates if and when they become available.

Update at 1:45 p.m. Jan. 30: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued another special marine warning for leeward and northwest waters of Kaua‘i until 2:15 p.m.

Radar indicated at 1:13 p.m. several thunderstorms moving northeast at 35 knots (about 40 mph) over waters southwest and northwest of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, producing wind gusts up to 40 knots (about 46 mph).

Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.

Locations impacted include Port Allen, Lehua Rock, southern tip of Ni‘ihau, Nohili Point and Kikiaola Harbor.

The public should prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas and blinding downpours. Stay low or go below, and make sure all those aboard your vessel are wearing life jackets.

Meanwhile, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative advises residents of Wainiha and Hā‘ena that power cannot be restored until transmission towers can be accessed via helicopter.

Current weather conditions will not allow such access until Friday morning at the earliest.

The public is advised that if you see any lines from utility poles on the ground, stay at least 30 feet clear, assume they are dangerous and call 9-1-1.

Follow local media and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s Facebook page for updated information about outages and weather advisories. You can also visit the utility co-op’s website.

Update at 10:54 a.m. Jan. 30: The National Weather Service has canceled the severe thunderstorm watch that was previously in effect for Kaua‘i County.

However, a flood watch remains in effect until 6 p.m. Friday.

And a high wind warning is in effect for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau until noon Friday, as south to southwest winds of 20 to 35 mph are forecast, with gusts of more than 60 mph.

Several power outages also are ongoing around the island and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative crews are responding.

Keep an eye on Kaua’i Now for the latest weather updates if and when they become available.

Update at 9:10 a.m. Jan. 30: Another special marine warning has been issued until 10 a.m. for the waters of the Kaua’i Channel and leeward and windward Kaua‘i.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu said radar indicated at 8:59 a.m. that strong to severe thunderstorms continue to move northeast at 30 (about 35 mph) to 35 knots (about 40 mph) across waters around the island.

Those storms are producing wind gusts in excess of 50 knots (about 58 mph) and could produce waterspouts and small hail.

Boats could suffer significant structural damage in high winds. Small craft could capsize in suddenly higher waves.

Locations impacted include Kīlauea Lighthouse, Makahuena Point and several buoys around the island.

The public should prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas and blinding downpours. Stay low or go below, and make sure all aboard your vessel are wearing life jackets.

Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas. Seek safe harbor
immediately.

The National Weather Service also canceled the flood advisory that was in effect until 10:45 a.m. for the island as radar shows heavy rain has diminished. Flooding is no longer expected to pose
a threat.

However, a flood watch remains in effect until 6 p.m. Friday.

Update at 8:14 a.m. Jan. 30: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a new special marine warning in effect until 9 a.m. for waters of the Kaua‘i Channel and leeward, northwest and windward waters of Kaua‘i.

Radar indicated at 7:57 a.m. that strong to severe thunderstorms continue to move northeast at 30 (about 35 mph) to 35 knots (about 40 mph) across waters around the Garden Isle. The storms are producing wind gusts in excess of 50 knots (about 58 mph) and small hail.

Boats could suffer significant structural damage in high winds. Small craft could capsize in suddenly higher waves.

Locations impacted include Kīlauea Lighthouse, Makahuena Point and several buoys.

Seafarers and the public are advised to prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas and blinding downpours. Stay low or go below, and make sure all aboard are wearing life jackets.

Thunderstorms also can produce sudden waterspouts, which can easil overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas.

Seek safe harbor immediately.

Update at 8:01 a.m. Jan. 30: Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative crews have been responding to weather related outages since late Wednesday evening.

As of 7:30 a.m. today, more than 4,000 cooperative members are experiencing outages with the following major outages still ongoing:

• Anahola to Hā‘ena: Total 3,781 members out throughout several outages.
• Kapa‘a: 76 members out.
• Kekaha: 119 members out.
• Kōkeʻe: 110 members out.

Crews are responding and restoring power as weather conditions allow. Members are advised to remain prepared for extended outages.

Current outages can be viewed on Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s Outage Map. Each circle on the map represents an outage.

Click on the circle for additional details, including how many members are affected.

Update at 7:39 a.m. Jan. 30: The flood advisory issued earlier for Kaua‘i was extended and is now in effect until 10:45 a.m.

Fortunately, the severe thunderstorm warning that was in effect for the southeastern part of the island has expired.

National Weather Service radar indicated at 7:21 a.m. that moderate to heavy showers continued to develop and move quickly over Kaua‘i from the south, with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Water levels remain elevated in streams around much of the island, and runoff impacting vulnerable low-lying areas and roads is possible.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, Kalāheo, Kekaha, Princeville, Kīlauea, North Fork Wailua Trails, Alakaʻi Swamp Trails, Lāwaʻi, ʻŌmaʻo, Kōkeʻe State Park, Wailua Homesteads, Hanalei, Hanapēpē, Wainiha, Nā Pali State Park, Kōloa, Hā’ena, Waimea and Wailua.

The public continues to be urged to stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding.

A flood watch is also in effect until 6 p.m. Friday.

Update at 6:18 a.m. Jan. 30: The special marine warning in effect for waters around Kaua‘i is now in effect until 8 a.m.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu extended the warning again after radar indicated at 6 a.m. that strong thunderstorms capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 50 knots (about 58 mph) and waterspouts continue to develop.

The storms are moving northeast at 35 knots (about 40 mph) over waters of the Kaua‘i Channel and leeward, northwest and windward Kaua‘i.

Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas. Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.

Some specific locations that will be impacted include Nāwiliwili Harbor, Kīlauea Lighthouse, southern tip of Ni‘ihau, Kikiaola Harbor and Hanalei Bay.

Seafarers and the public are advised to prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas and blinding downpours. Stay low or go below, and make sure all aboard are wearing life jackets.

Seek safe harbor immediately.

Update at 5:34 a.m. Jan. 30: A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until noon today for Kaua‘i County.

The watch means conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms, which can produce damaging winds of 58 mph or higher and destructive quarter-size hail or larger.

The National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu says the public should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and/or possible warnings.

Check the latest weather conditions at the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website.

Update at 5:16 a.m. Jan. 30: A flood advisory is now in effect until 7:45 a.m. for Kaua‘i because of forecast flooding caused by excessive rainfall.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu said that radar showed at 4:33 a.m. heavy showers developing and moving quickly over the island from the south, with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Water levels started to rise in streams around much of the island, which will likely continue through the morning. Runoff impacting vulnerable low-lying areas and roads is possible.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, Kalāheo, Kekaha, Princeville, Kīlauea, North Fork Wailua Trails, Alakaʻi Swamp Trails, Lāwaʻi, ʻŌmaʻo, Kōkeʻe State Park, Wailua Homesteads, Hanalei, Hanapēpē, Wainiha, Nā Pali State Park, Kōloa, Hā’ena, Waimea and Wailua.

The public is advised to stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu also issued a special weather statement for the Garden Isle after doppler radar began tracking at 4:55 a.m. strong thunderstorms developing and quickly moving northward at about 40 mph.

The storms were producing wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea-size hail.

Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa, Kalāheo, Kekaha, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Mana, Alakaʻi Swamp Trails, Hanalei, Nā Pali State Park, ʻŌmaʻo, Barking Sands, Wainiha, North Fork Wailua Trails, Moloaʻa, Waimea, Wailua Homesteads, Wailua and Hanapēpē.

If you are outdoors, seek shelter inside a building.

The public is also reminded that a flood watch is also in effect until 6 p.m. Friday.

Update at 4:35 a.m. Jan. 30: The special marine warning for waters around Kaua‘i has been extended until 6:15 a.m. today.

National Weather Service radar indicated at 4:21 a.m. that strong thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts continue to develop and move north at 40 knots (about 46 mph) over waters of the Kaua‘i Channel and leeward, northwest and windward Kaua’i.

Original post from 3:42 a.m. Jan. 30: The National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu has issued a special marine warning until 4:45 a.m. today for waters surrounding Kaua‘i as strong thunderstorms continue to develop around the island.

Waters of the Kaua‘i Channel and leeward, northwest and windward Kaua’i are covered by the warning.

Radar indicated at 2:58 a.m. strong thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts continued to develop and move north at 40 knots (about 46 mph). The storms also were producing wind gusts of up to nearly 50 knots (about 58 mph).

Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas. Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.

Some specific locations that will be impacted include Nāwiliwili Harbor, Kīlauea Lighthouse, southern tip of Ni‘ihau, Kikiaola Harbor and Hanalei Bay.

Seafarers and the public are advised to prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas and blinding downpours. Stay low or go below, and make sure all aboard are wearing life jackets.

Seek safe harbor immediately.

The high wind warning that is in effect for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau also was extended until noon Friday (Jan. 31), as south to southwest winds of 20 to 35 mph are forecast, with gusts of more than 60 mph.

Winds that strong can cause property damage, including roof damage, as well as blow down trees and power lines. Power outages also are possible.

Powerful crosswinds will pose a serious risk for drivers, as the high winds will make travel difficult especially for lightweight and high-profile vehicles. Motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution.

Property owners should make sure loose outdoor items are brought inside or secured properly.