Alert archive / Hawaii / Flash Flood Warnings in 2004

Flash Flood Warning 38, NWS Honolulu, HI

March 14, 2004Honolulu County, Kauai County, Hawaii

NWS Honolulu, HI issued this flash flood warning at Mar 14, 2004, 9:41 AM HST for Honolulu County, Kauai County, Hawaii. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Mar 14, 2004, 9:41 AM HST (19:41 UTC)
Expired
Mar 14, 2004, 12:45 PM HST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Honolulu, HI
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Honolulu County, HI, Kauai County, HI

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Hilo, (PITO), launched 12:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 72 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Hilo, at 12:00Z on 2004-03-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1147 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Hilo, at 12:00Z on 2004-03-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -9 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1147 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
737 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-12 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.0
Supercell composite
-0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WGHW50 PHFO 141942
FFWHI 
HIZ004-007-142245-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
941 AM HST SUN MAR 14 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR
  NORTH AND EAST HAWAII INCLUDING WINDWARD KOHALA AND HAMAKUA
  WEST HAWAII INCLUDING LEEWARD KOHALA

* UNTIL 1245 PM HST

* AT 927 AM HST...AUTOMATED RAIN GAGES INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM
  6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WAIMEA TO 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAUPAHOEHOE...
  OR FROM 37 MILES NORTHEAST OF KAILUA-KONA TO 18 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  HILO. THE AREA OF HEAVY RAIN WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF STREAMS
AND COULD ALSO TRIGGER ROCK AND MUDSLIDES IN STEEP TERRAIN.

MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR FLOODING AND SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS FAST FLOWING OR RISING WATER. MANY FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR
WHEN MOTORISTS TRY CROSSING FLOODED ROADWAYS. TURN AROUND...DO NOT
DROWN

ESCAPE RISING WATER BY CLIMBING DIRECTLY TO HIGHER GROUND. NEVER TRY
TO OUTRACE A FLOOD...EITHER ON FOOT OR IN YOUR VEHICLE. DO NOT CAMP
NEAR STREAMS OR OTHER AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL MEDIA SOURCES FOR THE
LATEST SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION. REPORT FLOODING TO THE POLICE FOR
IMMEDIATE RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 1999 15594 1986 15516 1994 15506 2035 15592
$$

FARRELL
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGHW70 PHFO 142055
FFSHI 
HIZ004-007-142145-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
1042 AM HST SUN MAR 14 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1245 PM HST FOR WEST HAWAII
INCLUDING LEEWARD KOHALA...NORTH AND EAST HAWAII INCLUDING WINDWARD 
KOHALA AND HAMAKUA...

AT 1042 AM HST...WEATHER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL MAINLY OVER KOHALA MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING THE KAMUELA 
WAIMEA AREA. THE HEAVY RAIN WAS SHOWING LITTLE MOVEMENT AND FLASH 
FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THIS AREA.

THE LATEST RAINFALL REPORTS FROM GAGES AROUND THE AREA INCLUDED
KAMUELA UPPER...0.69 INCHES IN 15 MINUTES ENDED AT 1030

WEATHER SPOTTER SF12 CALLED AT 1050 AM TO REPORT HEAVY RAIN...PITCH 
BLACK SKY WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND THUNDER...AND 7.8 INCHES OF 
RAIN SINCE 230 PM SATURDAY.

WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THAT AS MUCH AS 2.5 TO 3.O INCHES OF RAIN 
MAY HAVE FALLEN IN THE PAST HOUR OVER WINDWARD KOHALA...AND UP TO 8 
INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST 12 HOURS OVER THE AREA INCLUDING WINDWARD 
KOHALA AND HAMAKUA DOWN TO ABOUT LAPAHOEHOE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

$$

FARRELL
000 
WGHW70 PHFO 142141
FFSHI 
HIZ004-007-142230-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
1132 AM HST SUN MAR 14 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1245 PM HST FOR WEST HAWAII
INCLUDING LEEWARD KOHALA AND KONA...NORTH AND EAST HAWAII INCLUDING
WINDWARD KOHALA HAMAKUA HILO AND PUNA...

AT 1132 AM HST...WEATHER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL OVER KOHALA AND THE WAIMEA-KAMUELA AREA AND DOWN THE 
HAMAKUA COAST TO LAUPAHOEHOE. THE HEAVY RAIN WAS SHOWING LITTLE
MOVEMENT AND FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THIS AREA.

BIG ISLAND CIVIL DEFENSE REPORTS HIGHWAY 19 IS NOW CLOSED BETWEEN 
WAIMEA AND HONOKAA DUE TO FLOODING AND WATER OVER THE ROAD IN 
SEVERAL PLACES. HIGHWAY 250 IS ALSO CLOSED BETWEEN WAIMEA AND 
KAWIAHAE DUE TO FLOODING.

THE LATEST RAINFALL REPORTS FROM GAGES AROUND THE AREA INCLUDED
3.94 INCHES IN THE PAST 4 HOURS AT KAMUELA UPPER...WITH 1.96 INCHES 
OF THAT IN THE PAST HOUR. 
2.92 INCHES IN THE PAST 4 HOURS AT KAMUELA...WITH 1.48 INCHES OF 
THAT IN THE PAST HOUR.
2.77 INCHES IN THE PAST 4 HOURS AT KAHUA RANCH...WITH 1.37 INCHES OF 
THAT IN THE PAST 4 HOURS.

WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THAT AS MUCH AS 2 TO 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN MAY 
HAVE FALLEN IN THE PAST HOUR UPSLOPE AND TO THE SOUTHEAST OF 
HONOKAA...WITH 10 TO 12 INCHES NOW BEING SHOWN AS FALLEN IN THE PAST 
12 HOURS OVER THIS SAME AREA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

$$

FARRELL
000 
WGHW70 PHFO 142202 CCA
FFSHI 
HIZ004-007-142230-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
1202 PM HST SUN MAR 14 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1245 PM HST FOR WEST HAWAII
INCLUDING LEEWARD KOHALA AND KONA...NORTH AND EAST HAWAII INCLUDING
WINDWARD KOHALA HAMAKUA HILO AND PUNA...

AT 1132 AM HST...WEATHER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL OVER KOHALA AND THE WAIMEA-KAMUELA AREA AND DOWN THE 
HAMAKUA COAST TO LAUPAHOEHOE. THE HEAVY RAIN WAS SHOWING LITTLE
MOVEMENT AND FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THIS AREA.

BIG ISLAND CIVIL DEFENSE REPORTS HIGHWAY 19 IS NOW CLOSED BETWEEN 
WAIMEA AND HONOKAA DUE TO FLOODING AND WATER OVER THE ROAD IN 
SEVERAL PLACES. HIGHWAY 250 IS ALSO CLOSED BETWEEN WAIMEA AND 
HAWI PVER THE KOHALA MOUNTAINS WHERE A CULVERT HAS WASHED OUT.

THE LATEST RAINFALL REPORTS FROM GAGES AROUND THE AREA INCLUDED
3.94 INCHES IN THE PAST 4 HOURS AT KAMUELA UPPER...WITH 1.96 INCHES 
OF THAT IN THE PAST HOUR. 
2.92 INCHES IN THE PAST 4 HOURS AT KAMUELA...WITH 1.48 INCHES OF 
THAT IN THE PAST HOUR.
2.77 INCHES IN THE PAST 4 HOURS AT KAHUA RANCH...WITH 1.37 INCHES OF 
THAT IN THE PAST 4 HOURS.

WEATHER RADAR INDICATED THAT AS MUCH AS 2 TO 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN MAY 
HAVE FALLEN IN THE PAST HOUR UPSLOPE AND TO THE SOUTHEAST OF 
HONOKAA...WITH 10 TO 12 INCHES NOW BEING SHOWN AS FALLEN IN THE PAST 
12 HOURS OVER THIS SAME AREA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

$$

FARRELL

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Honolulu, HI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Mar 14, 4:00 AM HST, 5 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 14, 4:00 AM HST, 5 hours 41 minutes before
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
400 AM HST SUN MAR 14 2004

.SYNOPSIS...
CLOUDS AND SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A SHEARLINE NEAR THE BIG ISLAND
WILL CONTINUE TO FAVOR THE EASTERN HALF OF THE MAIN ISLAND CHAIN
THROUGH MUCH OF THE COMING WORK WEEK. STRONG TRADE WINDS WILL
DECREASE SLIGHTLY THROUGH THE WEEK...REMAINING STRONGEST OVER THE
WESTERN HALF OF THE MAIN ISLAND CHAIN. TRADES WILL INCREASE AGAIN
LATE NEXT WEEK.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
THERE IS LITTLE CHANGE IN FORECAST PHILOSOPHY FROM LAST EVENING.
SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS PERSIST ALONG A WEAKENING
SHEARLINE EXTENDING NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST ACROSS EAST MAUI AND THE
BIG ISLAND THIS MORNING. RADAR SHOWS THAT THERE ARE STILL PATCHES OF
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL...WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...OVER
PORTIONS OF THE WINDWARD SLOPES OF THE BIG ISLAND AND THE ISLAND OF
MAUI. KAUAI...OAHU AND MOLOKAI LIE WEST OF THE MAIN SHEARLINE CLOUD
BAND BUT ARE AFFECTED BY WARM-TOPPED BROKEN TO OVERCAST LOW CLOUDS.
THESE CLOUDS ARE LESS CONVECTIVE THAN THOSE WITHIN THE CLOUD BAND.
SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW THAT NORTHEAST TRADES IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE
PERSIST BEHIND THE SHEARLINE...WITH THE STRONGEST OF THESE WINDS
NOTED NEAR KAUAI AND OAHU.

A LOW FAR NORTH NORTHEAST OF HAWAII ALONG THE SHEARLINE WILL DRIFT
TOWARDS THE ISLANDS THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEKEND...THEN RETREAT
NORTHEASTWARD AGAIN BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. HOWEVER...BECAUSE
THIS LOW WILL MOVE PARALLEL TO THE LENGTH OF THE SHEARLINE OVER THE
BIG ISLAND INSTEAD OF DUE EASTWARD...THE SHEARLINE ITSELF WILL
LIKELY NOT MOVE MUCH THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THIS MEANS
THAT THE EASTERN END OF THE MAIN ISLAND CHAIN WILL SEE THE BULK OF
CLOUDS AND SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE...A FEATURE THAT
LATEST MODELS SHOW WILL WASH OUT ONLY VERY SLOWLY. THE LOW WILL
FINALLY LIFT NORTHEASTWARD LATE NEXT WEEK...ALLOWING A 1032 MB HIGH
TO MOVE IN TO OUR NORTH AND INDUCE A DRIER TRADE WIND PATTERN.

&&

.HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...ALL HAWAIIAN WATERS

POWELL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Honolulu, HI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 14, 12:45 AM HSTFlash Flood WarningHFOHonolulu, Kauai15 hr
Mar 14, 1:15 PM HSTFlash Flood WarningHFOKauai3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Hawaii, 2004Every flash flood warning in 2004

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.