Home / Disasters and Accidents / Hawaii Batters: 100+ MPH Winds, Floods, Snow
Hawaii Batters: 100+ MPH Winds, Floods, Snow
17 Mar
Summary
- Kona storm brought over 100 mph winds and heavy snow to Hawaii.
- More than 100,000 customers experienced power outages across islands.
- Kilauea volcano eruption added ashfall and road closures on Big Island.
Hawaii is grappling with a state of emergency declared by Gov. Josh Green due to a severe Kona storm. This powerful weather system unleashed wind gusts over 100 mph, heavy rainfall, and substantial snow on the islands' highest peaks. Widespread power outages affected over 100,000 customers, with Maui receiving between 22 and 32 inches of rain by Saturday morning.
Flooding inundated farmland, homes, and businesses, with one Maui couple witnessing their home collapse into a stream due to the Iao Stream's rapid rise. Their home, not being in a designated flood zone, lacked flood insurance. Extreme gusts were reported, with some reaching 135 mph on mountain summits.
Compounding these issues, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano experienced an eruptive episode early this week. This resulted in tephra falling outside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and led to ashfall warnings. Highway 11 on the Big Island was temporarily closed due to significant tephra deposits, creating hazardous travel conditions and air quality concerns.
