This is a satellite view of the winter storm over the islands.

We have been experiencing a Hawaiian winter storm over the last few days.  It has been raining buckets almost nonstop since the weekend.  Last night it continued to rain with lightening and thunder so loud it shook the house.  The rain tapered off a bit today, but we still got over five inches.  I dumped the rain gauge in the morning and right now it's overflowing.

These are some 24-hour rainfall totals for areas on the Big Island, through 5 p.m. Sunday.

Big Island
» Waiakea Uka 18.9"
» Hakalau 9.5"
» Hilo Airport 9.2"



This is a satellite view of the islands and the mainland.

Our rain gauge only goes to 5" inches.  I dumped the rain gauge three times on Saturday and four times on Sunday.  This morning I dumped the rain gauge and I left it overflowing tonight.



This satellite still photo shows the size of the storm.



This satellite photo still shows the Big Island where we live and the flash flood warning grid.  The yellow and red colors indicate heavy rainfall areas.  There was so much rain all at once that the runoff formed instant rivers out of nowhere.  Rivers turned into torrents of water rushing towards the sea.  Homes in Waiakea Uka were flooded.  It got pretty serious for awhile.

From the Star Bulletin:

"The situation in Hilo is critical and a life-threatening situation now," said Big Island Mayor Harry Kim. "Many places have been endangered in regards to flooding, and voluntary evacuation has been occurring."

Kim, who is also acting administrator of Big Island Civil Defense, declared a state of emergency for the Hilo, Puna, and Kau areas at 1:30 p.m.

....

On the Big Island, parts of highways 19 and 11 were closed, leaving Saddle Road as the only artery into Hilo, said Pat Engelhard, Hawaii county's director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

"We're just telling people to stay off the highways," Kim said. "We've asked all events to be canceled including athletic events and any recreational events that are not necessary."

The Hilo Bayfront Highway was also closed by flooding.

Enbgelhard said Alenaio Stream and Waiolama Canal were overflowing, putting Kamehameha Avenue under three feet of water.

Part of a Wailuku River bank collapsed from the heavy rainfall, sending a chunk of earth about 60 feet high and 50 feet wide into the river near an apartment complex, but the building was not affected and no one was injured, Engelhard said.



We had some ponding in the yard also.



Sheets of rain fell so hard it looked like a curtain of water practically hiding the new home under construction across the street.



Part of our gutter separated away from the house creating a waterfall.



Here's a clip motion view



At times the visibility seems to cast ghostly images in the distance.




This morning, schools were canceled due to the rain.  A snow day of sorts.

2/5/2008

Rain continues to fall on the Big Island in record amounts.  For the 72-hour period ending 6 a.m. Monday, a rain gauge at the Waiakea Agricultural Experimental Station recorded an incredible 46.71 inches of rain -- nearly 4 feet in three days.

Among more populated areas, Waiakea Uka received 31.82 inches during that same period.

About 100 to 150 home have sustained very serious flood damage.


An aerial view of Hilo's flooded Kamehameha Avenue and Bayfront Highway.

Kamehameha Avenue remained closed for the third straight day as runoff from the island's saturated slopes rushed down Alenaio Stream and overwhelmed the canal system, flooding the bayfront soccer fields. The normally busy avenue was shut from Ponahawai Street to Manono Street, and traffic was rerouted through Hilo town. Kamehameha Avenue will remain closed until the runoff subsides and the street becomes drivable again.

I thank god we have post and pier foundation.
So, What's for Dinner?



Grilled Chicken Breast on Noodles with a Spicy Peanut Sauce