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Maui Braces for Heavy Rains That Could Send Wildfire Ash into Storm Drains

National Weather Service issues flood watch for Hawaii as subtropical cyclone threatens to trigger localized flooding and snowfall on Big Island mountains.

Overview

  • Maui officials are on standby to prevent ash from August's deadly wildfire in Lahaina from flowing into storm drains due to forecasted heavy rain and strong winds.
  • The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the entire state through Thursday due to a subtropical cyclone west of the island chain.
  • Rain falling at a rate of more than 1 inch per hour could trigger localized flooding over burn scars in Lahaina and in Kula, another area affected by wildfires three months ago.
  • Maui County has placed 40 pallets of straw barriers around Lahaina and has 25 staff members on standby.
  • Forecasters predict up to 5 inches of snow could fall on the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two Big Island mountains that rise 13,000 feet above sea level.