Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in Hawaii, July 28 to 31, 2013

Name: Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in Hawaii, July 28 to 31, 2013
Start: 2013-07-28T12:00
End: 2013-07-31T23:59
Location: Hawaii

July 28 to 31, 2013 · NWS HFO · 30 events in 13 counties and zones

Flossie, downgraded to tropical depression status as it neared Maui at 1700 HST on the 29th, affected the state from July 28th through the 30th, though high surf continued through the 31st on the Big Island of Hawaii. The system brought surf of 8 to 15 feet along east-facing shores of most islands, thunderstorms, heavy rain and a flash flood, and wind.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $24,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 30

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS HFO wrote it up.

The radar

The Molokai radar (PHMO), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 tropical storm, 8 high surf, 7 heavy rain, 5 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai Windward

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 30, 3:00 PM HST
Where: Kauai Windward forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Oahu Koolau

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 30, 3:00 PM HST
Where: Oahu Koolau forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Olomana

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 30, 3:00 PM HST
Where: Olomana forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai Windward

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 30, 3:00 PM HST
Where: Molokai Windward forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Maui Windward West

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 30, 3:00 PM HST
Where: Maui Windward West forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Windward Haleakala

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 30, 3:00 PM HST
Where: Windward Haleakala forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, South Big Island

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where: South Big Island forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Big Island North and East

When: July 28, 12:00 PM HST to July 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tropical Storm, Windward Haleakala

When: July 29, 8:25 AM HST to 9:30 AM HST
Where: Windward Haleakala forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper

Power outage due to a downed tree near Makawao.

Tropical Storm, Big Island North and East

When: July 29, 11:40 AM HST to 1:45 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Route 123 in Pahoa closed from Nanawale to Lava Tree State Park due to downed trees and power lines. Pohoiki Road closed from Route 123 to Leilani Blvd.

Tropical Storm, Big Island North and East

When: July 29, 12:10 PM HST to 12:20 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

A 35-foot tree blown down by Momona Road in Kurtistown.

Tropical Storm, Big Island North and East

When: July 29, 12:10 PM HST to 12:20 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Trees blown down off Puna Mauka Loop in Hawaiian Beaches.

Tropical Storm, Big Island North and East

When: July 29, 12:39 PM HST to 12:40 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Winds gusted to 40 mph at the Hilo Airport. One building was damaged.

Tropical Storm, Big Island North and East

When: July 29, 12:57 PM HST to 1:25 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

Power outage occurred at Mountain View Elementary shelter.

Heavy Rain, Hawaii

When: July 29, 1:17 PM HST to 5:36 PM HST
Where: Hawaii County, 6.42 mi NNE of Kawaihae to 7.86 mi SE of Volcano
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.121, -155.808

Tropical Storm, Big Island North and East

When: July 29, 1:41 PM HST to 1:45 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: County Official

A tree fell on a house, also knocking down power lines.

Tropical Storm, Big Island North and East

When: July 29, 2:00 PM HST to 3:30 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper

Approximately 5000 customers lost power between Volcano and Panaewa.

Tropical Storm, Kona

When: July 29, 4:18 PM HST to 6:00 PM HST
Where: Kona forecast zone
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A power pole was blown over at Alii Drive and Poinciana Drive in Holualoa, blocking the roads.

Lightning, Maui

When: July 29, 6:18 PM HST to 6:19 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.65 mi E of Puunene
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 20.870, -156.460

Lightning created a five-inch diameter hole in the roof of a home in Kahului.

Lightning, Maui

When: July 29, 6:50 PM HST to 6:51 PM HST
Where: Maui County, Haiku
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 20.920, -156.320

A man was struck by lightning in Haiku.

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: July 29, 6:53 PM HST to 9:29 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.22 mi S of Halawa Valley to 1.74 mi NE of Maunaloa
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.152, -156.747

Flash Flood, Maui

When: July 29, 6:57 PM HST to 8:40 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.18 mi E of Keawakapu to 1.32 mi E of Keawakapu
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 20.697, -156.432

Three feet of water was diverted from a clogged stream and then damaged a home in the Kihei/Wailea area, in the Maui Meadows subdivision.

Lightning, Maui

When: July 29, 7:40 PM HST to 8:10 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.46 mi ESE of Kaunakakai
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 21.090, -157.010

A lightning strike to a power plant on Molokai near Kaunakakai took out power to the island.

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: July 29, 7:57 PM HST to 10:17 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 3.49 mi NE of Manele Harbor to 6.92 mi W of Shipwreck Beach
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.782, -156.838

Lightning, Maui

When: July 29, 8:00 PM HST to 10:00 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.95 mi SE of Happy Valley
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 20.890, -156.510

Nearly 10,000 customers went without power, including residents in Upper Olinda, from Paia to Kuau, from Huelo to Hana, and along the East Maui coast.

Lightning, Maui

When: July 29, 8:22 PM HST to 9:22 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.65 mi E of Puunene
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 20.870, -156.460

Because of a lightning strike, backup power was used at Kahului Airport for about an hour.

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: July 29, 8:22 PM HST to 9:15 PM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 0.27 mi NNE of Kamiloiki to 2.13 mi SE of Kamiloiki
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 21.324, -157.679

Heavy rain dislodged two boulders that settled on Kalanianaole Highway near the Halona Blow Hole.

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: July 29, 11:27 PM HST to July 30, 1:23 AM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 1.81 mi ESE of Kailua to 0.57 mi SW of Ewa
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.385, -157.727

Heavy Rain, Kauai

When: July 30, 9:11 AM HST to 10:45 AM HST
Where: Kauai County, 1.31 mi NNE of Kapaa to 1.39 mi NNW of Kaana
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 22.097, -159.311

Heavy Rain, Kauai

When: July 30, 5:11 PM HST to 8:06 PM HST
Where: Kauai County, 0.92 mi NE of Puhi to 4.1 mi W of Hanalei
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.979, -159.390

What these are

High Surf: Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.
Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Hawaii in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Hawaii, July 2013 The 2013 hurricane season

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 461694, 461695, 461696, 461697, 461698, 461699, 461700, 461701, 461702, 461703, 461704, 461705, 461706, 461708, 461691, 462039, 462040, 462041, 462042, 462043, 462045, 462044, 462046, 462047, 462048, 462049, 462051, 462052, 462053, 462054.