Rainfall during the Hawaiian winter and summer The windward/east side of the island (Hilo) receives by far the most rain. As you can see on the map below, Hilo gets between 10 and 40 times as much rain as the driest parts of the Big Island.7 Jan 2022
Was Maui affected by flooding?
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Parts of Maui were damaged by heavy rain and flooding on Friday, Dec. 6, brought torrential floods to the Maui Meadows area.18 Dec 2021
Why is Hawaii under a state of emergency?
Following a forecast of "catastrophic" rainfall, flash floods and landslides, Hawaii Gov. David Ige declared a state of emergency for the tropical state. The city of Honolulu recorded its wettest December day on Monday after receiving 8 inches of rainfall.7 Dec 2021
Did Hawaii flood?
Urban parts of Honolulu saw significant flooding and loss of power, the authorities said. But heading into Tuesday evening, the state had largely avoided landslides and catastrophic floods.8 Dec 2021
What caused the flooding in Hawaii?
One of the most inundated parts of the state was Honolulu, which saw floods in urban areas that were caused in part by clogged drains, Adam Weintraub, a spokesman for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said on Tuesday.8 Dec 2021
Why is it raining so much in Hawaii?
Trade winds over the Hawaiian islands blow from the East and Northeast between 250 and 300 days every year (source). Once the trade winds reach the mountains (volcanoes) on the Hawaiian islands, the air is lifted up. As that happens the moisture in the air condenses and produces clouds and rain.7 Jan 2022
Is flooding normal in Hawaii?
The number of floods per year has increased sharply since the 1960s and is expected to keep rising. In Honolulu alone, high tide flooding has increased from 6 days per year to 11! Floods cause water contamination, damage to infrastructure, and put people and their houses at risk.
How often do floods happen in Hawaii?
Flash floods in Hawaii can occur during any month of the year. Since 1960, flash flood events have been recorded an average of eight times per year. However, these events are most frequent during the Hawaiian wet season, which runs from October through April.
Does Hawaii get flooded?
Hawaii's natural geography, including lava and water, left the state at risk of severe floods because “everything runs off” easily from the slick volcanic rocks covering the islands, David Roth, a meteorologist with the Weather Service, said on Monday.8 Dec 2021