Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 26 to 30, 2014

Name: Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 26 to 30, 2014
Start: 2014-03-26T04:09
End: 2014-03-30T20:13
Location: Hawaii

March 26 to 30, 2014 · NWS HFO · 24 events in 4 counties and zones

A surface and an upper trough destabilized the atmosphere over the Aloha State and resulted in heavy showers and thunderstorms, small hail in some instances, locally gusty winds, and a funnel cloud or two. The rain produced ponding on roadways, and small stream and drainage ditch flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Mar 26, 3:30 AM HST, 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 26, 3:30 AM HST, 39 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
330 AM HST WED MAR 26 2014

.SYNOPSIS...
TRADE WINDS WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS THROUGH
THE FORECAST PERIOD AS HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES TO OUR NORTH. WIND
SPEEDS WILL DECREASE A BIT THROUGH FRIDAY AS ONE HIGH MOVES
EASTWARD AWAY FROM US AND ANOTHER HIGH MOVES IN. TRADE WINDS WILL
BECOME STRONG AND BREEZY AGAIN THIS WEEKEND AS THE SECOND HIGH
TAKES HOLD. CLOUDS AND SHOWERS WILL FAVOR WINDWARD AND MAUKA AREAS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A 1025 MB HIGH NEAR 29N146W...ABOUT 850 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE MAIN
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS...HAS AN ASSOCIATED RIDGE EXTENDING EAST SOUTHEAST
THROUGH 24N130W AND WEST NORTHWEST THROUGH 35N180W. THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT BETWEEN THIS RIDGE AND EQUATORIAL LOW PRESSURE IS
SUFFICIENTLY STEEP TO MAINTAIN 15 TO 20 MPH EASTERLY TRADE WINDS
ACROSS LOCAL WATERS THIS MORNING. AN UPPER TROUGH LIES JUST EAST OF
THE ISLANDS...WITH AN AXIS EXTENDING THROUGH 30N142W AND 10N157W.
SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS THE WESTERN EDGE OF A FIELD OF BROKEN TO
OVERCAST HIGH CLOUDS LIES ALONG THIS AXIS. SHOWERS ARE NOT AS
ENHANCED AS THEY WERE AROUND MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND LAST
NIGHT...BUT COVERAGE HAS SPREAD WEST TO MOLOKAI...OAHU AND KAUAI
WITHIN THE PAST FEW HOURS. SEVERAL WINDWARD AND MAUKA OAHU RAIN GAGE
ALARMS FOR ONE INCH PER HOUR RAINFALL RATES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE
MIDNIGHT. IN CONTRAST...SKIES ACROSS MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND ARE
MUCH CLEARER THAN THEY WERE LAST EVENING...AND RAINFALL HAS ALMOST
CEASED OVER LAND THERE. WE EXPECT INCREASED SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS MOLOKAI...OAHU AND KAUAI TODAY...PROMPTING APPROPRIATE FIRST
PERIOD CHANGES TO POP...SKY AND WX GRIDS. THE AREA OF LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE WHICH IS FUELING THESE SHOWERS SHOULD PASS WEST OF THE
ISLANDS BY TONIGHT.

TROUGHING ASSOCIATED WITH A SURFACE LOW PASSING EASTWARD FAR NORTH
OF THE HIGH HAS PUT A DENT IN THE RIDGE BETWEEN 160W AND  170W. THIS
DENT WILL PASS NORTH OF THE ISLANDS THROUGH THE REST OF THIS WEEK AS
THE HIGH CURRENTLY TO OUR NORTHEAST MOVES EASTWARD AND ANOTHER HIGH
FAR TO OUR NORTHWEST NOSES IN. THE LOCAL RESULT WILL BE DECREASED
TRADE WINDS ACROSS THE ISLANDS INTO FRIDAY. CLOUDS AND SHOWERS WILL
CONTINUE TO FAVOR WINDWARD AND MAUKA AREAS. MODELS SHOW LOCAL WINDS
WILL INCREASE ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEKEND AS THE SECOND HIGH TAKES ITS
PLACE TO OUR NORTH. THIS HIGH WILL BE STRONGER THAN THE ONE MOVING
AWAY NOW...SO WE EXPECT WINDS WILL BE STRONG AND GUSTY AGAIN BY THIS
WEEKEND...WITH A QUICK INCREASE EXPECTED LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREDOMINATE THROUGH THE NIGHTTIME AND MORNING
HOURS...WITH TEMPO MVFR OVER WINDWARD AND MAUKA AREAS AS LOW CLOUDS
AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING SHOWERS RIDE THE TRADE WINDS. AN AIRMET FOR
TEMPO MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION FOR NE AND E SLOPES ON THE BIG ISLAND
CONTINUES IN EFFECT...BUT MAY BE CANCELLED AT THE NEXT ITERATION.

&&

.MARINE...
SURF ALONG ALL SHORES WILL REMAIN BELOW ADVISORY LEVEL THROUGH THE
WEEK. THE CURRENT MODERATE NORTHWEST SWELL WILL CONTINUE TO SUBSIDE
AND A NEW SMALL NORTHWEST SWELL WILL PEAK TODAY. STRENGTHENING TRADE
WINDS OVER THE WEEKEND MAY PRODUCE ROUGH SURF ALONG EAST FACING
SHORES BUT ADVISORY LEVEL SURF IS NOT EXPECTED.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY RETURN THIS WEEKEND AS
WINDS STRENGTHEN AGAIN.

&&

.HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

PUBLIC/MARINE...POWELL
AVIATION...KINEL

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: March 26, 4:09 AM HST to 6:59 AM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 0.38 mi WSW of Kahaluu to 0.7 mi SE of Maunawili
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.449, -157.836

Heavy Rain, Hawaii

When: March 26, 2:21 PM HST to 5:01 PM HST
Where: Hawaii County, 0.85 mi E of Puako to 1.27 mi SE of Saddle Road Junction
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 19.971, -155.837

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: March 27, 6:07 AM HST to 8:12 AM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 1.46 mi SSE of Kahuku to 1.9 mi NNE of Woodlawn
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.661, -157.940

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: March 27, 1:08 PM HST to 3:05 PM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 0.58 mi NNE of Pomoho to 0.96 mi N of Waipio
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.527, -158.046

Heavy Rain, Kauai

When: March 27, 1:44 PM HST to 4:02 PM HST
Where: Kauai County, 1.62 mi W of Kalihiwai to 4.61 mi NW of Anahola
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 22.221, -159.445

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 27, 10:18 PM HST to March 28, 3:04 AM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.51 mi SE of Nahiku to 1.75 mi NNW of Hamoa
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.826, -156.094

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: March 28, 2:57 AM HST to 5:52 AM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 2.15 mi NNW of Kahaluu to 1.76 mi E of Kawela Bay
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.479, -157.844

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 28, 5:18 AM HST to 8:08 AM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.15 mi SE of Halawa Valley to 0.87 mi SSW of Pukoo
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.157, -156.739

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 28, 7:53 AM HST to 10:38 AM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.13 mi SE of Nahiku to 0.5 mi W of Kaupo
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.818, -156.088

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: March 28, 12:07 PM HST to 5:13 PM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 2.22 mi SSE of Schofield Barracks to 1.98 mi ESE of Hawaii Kai
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.468, -158.063

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 28, 1:14 PM HST to 9:46 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.66 mi S of Honolua to 1.53 mi NE of Kipahulu
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.010, -156.629

Heavy Rain, Hawaii

When: March 28, 2:40 PM HST to 5:07 PM HST
Where: Hawaii County, 2.14 mi NNE of Volcano to 2.37 mi WSW of Naalehu
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 19.450, -155.221

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 28, 2:59 PM HST to 8:12 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.54 mi N of Maunaloa to 1.54 mi SSE of Halawa Valley
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.138, -157.220

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 28, 7:01 PM HST to 9:51 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.8 mi S of Koele to 0.15 mi S of Shipwreck Beach
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.804, -156.915

Heavy Rain, Hawaii

When: March 28, 8:35 PM HST to March 29, 2:26 AM HST
Where: Hawaii County, 0.63 mi W of Ookala to 3.05 mi SE of Pahoa
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.020, -155.290

Heavy Rain, Kauai

When: March 29, 5:32 AM HST to 7:48 AM HST
Where: Kauai County, 1.42 mi ESE of Keawanui to 0.6 mi SE of Kilauea
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 22.142, -159.710

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 29, 11:29 AM HST to 2:16 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.13 mi WNW of Maunaloa to 1.39 mi S of Halawa Valley
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.136, -157.236

Heavy Rain, Honolulu

When: March 29, 11:43 AM HST to 11:16 PM HST
Where: Honolulu County, 1.78 mi E of Kawela Bay to 2.24 mi NNW of Kahaluu
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 21.702, -157.992

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 29, 1:26 PM HST to 10:20 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.73 mi SSE of Napili to 1.79 mi SE of Keokea
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.971, -156.665

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 29, 1:26 PM HST to 10:20 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.73 mi SSE of Napili to 1.47 mi SSW of Waianapanapa Sp
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.971, -156.665

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 30, 12:06 AM HST to 2:51 AM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.69 mi S of Wailua to 1.07 mi SSW of Hana
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.826, -156.128

Heavy Rain, Hawaii

When: March 30, 1:29 PM HST to 5:27 PM HST
Where: Hawaii County, 0.6 mi ENE of Honokaa to 3.27 mi E of Waikoloa Beach Resort
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.084, -155.462

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 30, 3:17 PM HST to 5:09 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 1.35 mi NE of Pulehu to 0.88 mi S of Makena
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.793, -156.315

Heavy Rain, Maui

When: March 30, 6:06 PM HST to 8:13 PM HST
Where: Maui County, 0.57 mi WNW of Haliimaile to 1.18 mi W of Waianapanapa Sp
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 20.873, -156.338

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Hawaii in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Hawaii, March 2014

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 500331, 500332, 500333, 500334, 500335, 500336, 500337, 500338, 500339, 500340, 500341, 500342, 500343, 500344, 500345, 500346, 500347, 500348, 500349, 500350, 500351, 500352, 500353, 500354.