An upper level low passing just south of the state along with breezy east to southeast winds produced significant rainfall over Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii from Sunday, January 24, through Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Heavy showers started over the Big Island on Sunday evening with bands of showers moving up the southeastern and eastern slopes of the island. A large area of 3 to 9 inches of rainfall was observed mainly over the Ka`u, Puna and Hilo Districts.
On Monday afternoon, the heavy rainfall shifted to the island of Oahu. Unstable air coupled with breezy east to southeast winds produced island convergence plumes west of Molokai and Lanai. These rainfall plumes moved over Oahu and quickly produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding over the southern half of the island. The highest rainfall totals were observed from urban Honolulu westward into the Pearl Harbor area. Several automated rain gauge stations reporting from 3 to 5 inches of rainfall over a 12 hour time period.
Heavy rain flared up again over the Big Island Monday night and continued into Tuesday morning. An widespread area of 2 to 5 inches of additional rain occurred across windward and southeast sections.
The following are selected preliminary rainfall totals covering the 48-hour period ending at 7 PM HST Tuesday, January 26, 2021. All totals are in inches.
Location Rainfall (Inches) ISLAND OF KAUAI Mount Waialeale 9.58 N Wailua Ditch 4.00 Waialae 3.33 Hanalei 2.64 Kilohana 2.63 Mohihi Crossing 2.59 Princeville Airport 1.82 Waiakoali 1.59 ISLAND OF OAHU Nuuanu Upper 5.54 Niu Valley 5.44 Palolo Fire Station 5.16 Moanalua 5.13 Waipio 5.00 Kunia Substation 4.62 Manoa Lyon Arboretum 4.25 Waiawa 3.72 Aloha Tower 3.18 Palisades 3.07 Schofield Barracks 2.94 Wheeler Airfield 2.87 Honouliuli 2.75 Lualualei 2.42 Honolulu Airport 2.03 ISLAND OF MOLOKAI Puu Alii 1.96 ISLAND OF MAUI West Wailuaiki 4.23 Puu Kukui 1.77 Kula 1 0.99 BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII Saddle Quarry 14.30 Glenwood 13.25 Kulani NWS 12.49 Pali 2 11.52 Kapapala Ranch 10.87 Piihonua 10.75 Hakalau 10.35 Kapapala RAWS 10.08 Waiakea Uka 9.91 Mountain View 9.76 Waiakea Experiment Stn 9.66 Nene Cabin 8.78 Keaumo 8.60 Pahala 8.51 Lower Kahuku 8.01 Kealakomo 7.74 Hilo Airport 7.66 Pahoa 7.03 Laupahoehoe 6.82 Papaikou Well 6.36 Mauna Loa Obs Stn 4.55 Puu Mali 3.28 Kahuku Ranch 2.47
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