Hawaii Residents Urged to Protect Electronics and Vehicles from Coastal Flooding

According to the latest update from the National Weather Service (NWS), meteorologists are urging hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors across Hawaii to take precautions against coastal flooding over the next three days. The NWS has issued a coastal flood statement covering much of Maui County and the Big Island, effective from Thursday through Saturday.

The warning comes as afternoon high tides are expected to coincide with water levels roughly half a foot higher than predicted, combined with a "large south swell" contributing to coastal inundation. The NWS has identified the risk of "isolated minor coastal flooding" along flood-prone, low-lying shoreline areas, with the potential for flooding of beaches, minor coastal erosion, and saltwater inundation.

To mitigate the threat, the NWS is advising residents and visitors to move electronics, vehicles, and other valuables to higher ground. Boat owners are also being asked to monitor their vessel mooring lines and secure any canoes or watercraft stored on beaches. The public is encouraged to support scientific research by reporting any flooding observations to the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program's King Tides Project.

The NWS anticipates that coastal water levels will drop below flooding thresholds after Saturday's afternoon high tides, with conditions expected to improve by Sunday. Until then, residents and visitors are urged to remain vigilant and attentive to weather updates.