A cold upper level trough along with deep moisture and southeasterly winds allowed heavy rainfall to develop over the Koolau mountain range of Oahu, over Kauai, and over windward portions of Maui. On Oahu, the heavy rain developed and remained persistent for several hours, which led to flooding and flash flooding over the eastern and northern portions of the island.
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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.
The episode as NWS HFO wrote it up.
A cold upper level trough along with deep moisture and southeasterly winds allowed heavy rainfall to develop over the Koolau mountain range of Oahu, over Kauai, and over windward portions of Maui. On Oahu, the heavy rain developed and remained persistent for several hours, which led to flooding and flash flooding over the eastern and northern portions of the island. Particularly the Koolau Mountain Range was impacted. Portions of Maui and Kauai also experienced flash flooding.
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 Feb 20, 9:14 PM HST, 5 hours 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Honolulu HI 914 PM HST Fri Feb 20 2026 .SYNOPSIS... Breezy trades will continue for one more day, but will gradually ease by this evening. As a disturbance moves overhead today, expect increasing chances for heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms over the western end of the state, and the wet weather will continue into the weekend. Strengthening trades early next week will return a more typical windward and mauka focused shower pattern, followed by more stable conditions by mid to late week. && .SHORT TERM UPDATE... Periods of heavy showers were observed over Kauai and Oahu this evening with 1 to 3 inches of rainfall observed in a three to six hour time period over portions of the Koolau Mountains on Oahu. A combination of a passing upper level trough will continue to set the state for an unstable atmosphere lingering into Saturday morning. This large scale instability will be enhanced by low level convergence bands enhancing the threat for flash flooding into the morning hours. && .PREV DISCUSSION... Issued at 404 PM HST Fri Feb 20 2026 Water vapor imagery is showing a short-wave trough approaching the state this afternoon from the west, which should help produce showers and isolated thunderstorms over the western half of the state tonight. A Flood Watch remains in effect for Kauai and Niihau through tonight, and the latest HREF model agrees with the heaviest rainfall rates occurring during the evening and overnight hours. Unstable and showery conditions should persist on Saturday, but the greatest flooding risk should be tonight as the upper trough swings through Kauai. Over on Oahu, we are seeing showers training along the Ko'olau Range this afternoon. Low level winds have weakened and veered toward the east-southeast and we are seeing a plume of moisture drifting towards Oahu from Molokai. Training showers will likely continue along the Ko'olau range through this evening, which will lead to rises along the streams and some minor flooding possible along low lying areas. For the most part, rainfall rates have been holding in the 0.5 to 1 inch per hour rate, but rainfall rates could increase this evening as instability increases from the approaching upper level trough. The upper level trough should bring an increase of showers and isolated thunderstorms late tonight into Saturday for Oahu. For rest of the state, showers should be on the increase Saturday, with windward areas likely seeing the greatest shower coverage. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible, but if any thunderstorms do form, they will likely be brief and isolated. Some localized flooding impacts will be possible, especially windward areas. The summits of the Big Island could also see some snow showers Saturday afternoon, which may prompt a Winter Weather Advisory. By Sunday, the main moisture axis should lift off to our north and while conditions aloft will still be unstable, we will lack the moisture on Sunday. So overall Sunday should start off fairly nice, with sea breezes developing during the day. Sea breezes should allow for some afternoon clouds and showers over interior and mountain areas. Any showers that do develop could be heavier than usual due to the instability aloft. Beyond the weekend, model guidance suggests the main band of moisture staying north of the state through Monday. As high pressure builds north of the state Monday night into Tuesday, this band of moisture will ride in with the returning trade winds Tuesday into Tuesday night. By the second half of next week, mid- level ridging is expected to build overhead, supporting a more stable pattern with moderate to breezy trade winds. && .AVIATION... Issued at 404 PM HST Fri Feb 20 2026 Trade winds will weaken this evening and Saturday as the pressure gradient weakens and an upper level trough moves over the islands from the west. Showers are expected to increase in coverage from west to east tonight through Saturday. We expect localized MVFR and isolated IFR in the strongest showers. AIRMET Sierra is in effect for mountain obscuration above 2 kft for north through southeast Oahu, east Maui, and north and east Big Island due to showers. AIRMET Tango remains in effect for tempo moderate turbulence below 8000 feet over leeward sides of the islands as a result of continued breezy low level winds. Conditions are expected to improve as winds weaken tonight. && .MARINE... Fresh to locally strong trades will begin to ease over the weekend as a gale to the northwest lifts northward and away from the region. Winds will become light enough for a localized land and sea breeze regime to become established over the weekend. Seas will respond by gradually lowering, likely falling below the 10 ft Small Craft Advisory level by Saturday. In addition to the winds and seas, expect a wet pattern with isolated thunderstorms as an upper disturbance lingers in the area. Surf along exposed east-facing shores will remain rough, with heights hovering around advisory levels today. A downward trend will follow over the weekend as winds diminish locally and upstream of the state. Surf along exposed north- and east-facing shores will quickly build through the day Monday as a long-period north-northeast swell from a broad storm-force low evolves off the northwest Pacific coast this weekend. A large area of northerly gales between this system and a 1048 mb blocking high centered over the Aleutians will continue to expand southward through the weekend, with the head of the fetch reaching less than 1,000 nautical miles from the state. Heights will reach warning levels for exposed north- and east-facing shores by late Monday through Tuesday. Although a gradual downward trend is anticipated by midweek, additional pulses from this same system will keep surf above advisory levels for east-facing shores through much of the week. This swell direction will bring surf into some typically protected areas such as Kua Bay, West Maui, and exposed shores of Lanai. Other impacts from this north-northeast swell direction could include significant erosion along some coasts and accretion at other locations as sand shifts opposite the typical swell direction, particularly along north-facing shores. Additionally, overwash along vulnerable sections of coastline and roadways will be possible beginning Monday night during high tide cycles. Mariners can also anticipate harbor surges at Kahului and Hilo. Surf along exposed west-facing shores will rise early next week as a long-period northwest swell arrives from a recent broad storm- force low over the far northwest Pacific. && .HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 6 AM HST Saturday for Niihau, Kauai and Oahu. High Surf Advisory until 6 AM HST Saturday for east facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island. Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Saturday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Windward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Kauai Channel- Kauai Windward Waters-Maui County Windward Waters-Oahu Windward Waters-Pailolo Channel. && DISCUSSION...Bohlin AVIATION...Parker MARINE...Gibbs
The South Kauai radar (PHKI), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:58 UTC.
5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Kauai Police shut down Kuhio Highway near the Hanalei River Bridge due to rising water and flooding.
Heavy rain began falling over the Koolau mountain range early in the morning and became anchored through most of the day. Widespread flooding occurred over much of the Koolau Mountains and eastern areas of Oahu. The following event summary includes a list of impacts that the flooding caused. A man in Kaneohe reported forty inches of water in his backyard with twenty inches of water in his house along the Keeahala Stream. The Kokokahi Gymnasium was reportedly flooded according to the broadcast media. Flood waters reportedly inundated homes in the neighborhoods bordered by the Likelike and Kamehameha Highways downstream of the Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens. A business was flooded on Kamehameha Highway at the confluence of Opaeula Stream and Helemano Stream. The Likelike off ramp from the H3 Kaneohe-bound was closed due to flooding, and cars were flooded up to their windows. As a result, residents had to be rescued from their vehicles. A family on Kaneohe Bay Drive reported that rapid flood waters washed away the stairs leading up to their home. According to the City and County of Honolulu, a wastewater spill at the Ahuimanu Preliminary Treatment Facility occurred due to heavy rainfall and resulting inflow and infiltration into the wastewater system.
A Moanalua Gardens employee reported the Moanalua stream overflowed its banks and flooded the Moanalua Gardens parking lot and field with debris.
A River/Creek reportedly overflowed and flooded cropland, a yard, and a basement.
The Hana Police Department reported a landslide on the Hana Highway. The roadway was |temporarily closed to remove rock and debris. A nearby resort in the Hana area also reported trees downed from landslides.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Hawaii in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, February 2026
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: 1309249, 1308841, 1308838, 1309248, 1308839.