Hawaii, 2026

Flash Flooding and High Wind in Hawaii, February 7 to 9, 2026

February 7 to 9, 2026 · NWS HFO · 9 events in 7 counties and zones

A cold front moved down the island chain, bringing strong north to northeast winds in its wake. These strong winds brought numerous impacts to the state.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
0
Property damage
$360,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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.

A cold front moved down the island chain, bringing strong north to northeast winds in its wake. These strong winds brought numerous impacts to the state. Heavy rain also led to landslides and road closures on the Big Island.

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 Feb 7, 3:41 AM HST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 7, 3:41 AM HST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Honolulu HI
341 AM HST Sat Feb 7 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will move into Molokai this morning, then stall near
Maui later today. This frontal boundary combined with increasing
moisture and a disturbance aloft, will bring the potential for
heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and a few rumbles of thunder
through Monday. Breezy north to northeasterly winds will develop
behind the front, with the trades then becoming very windy Sunday
into Monday as strong high pressure builds north of the state.
Conditions will gradually improve by mid to late next week, though
breezy and showery trade wind weather is expected to persist.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Currently at the surface, a slow moving cold front is located in
the Kaiwi Channel just east of Oahu as of 3 am HST. Behind the
front moderate to breezy north winds have filled in with frequent
gusts of 35 to 40 mph observed across Kauai and Oahu. Ahead of
the front light and variable winds prevail. Infrared satellite
imagery depicts mostly cloudy to overcast conditions across the
smaller islands, while clear to partly cloudy skies prevail over
most of the Big Island. Radar imagery shows scattered to numerous
showers across the smaller islands, with a few showers affecting
east and southeast facing slopes of the Big Island. Main short
term focus revolves around heavy rain and damaging wind potential
over the weekend into early next week.

The cold front is expected to move into Molokai later this
morning, then stall out over Maui later today. Low clouds and
showers will continue to be most prevalent along and in close
proximity to the front, with breezy north to northeast winds
developing in its wake. The front will gradually weaken and
dissipate during the next couple days, while strong high pressure
builds north of the state. Abundant moisture will pool along the
stalled front or its remnant moisture band through Monday, as a
disturbance aloft moves overhead. This will maintain the threat
for heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the area, with a
couple rumbles of thunder not out of the question Sunday through
Monday. As a result, a Flood Watch remains in effect from this
afternoon through Monday afternoon.

In addition to the flooding threat, very windy conditions are
forecast to develop this weekend and continue through early next
week, as a strong area of high pressure builds north of the
islands. A Wind Advisory will likely be required for the entire
state Sunday through early Tuesday. Portions of the state could
even see winds reach High Wind Warning levels. The strongest winds
are expected in areas downslope of terrain, through valleys, and
other local acceleration areas, and a High Wind Watch remains in
effect for these locations Sunday through Monday.

Finally, the old temperatures aloft associated with the upper
disturbance will support the potential for heavy snow on the Big
Island summits as well. Dry mid-level air is expected over the
summits today, with the arrival of deeper moisture expected
sometime tonight. As a result, the timing of the Winter Storm
Watch has been adjusted to begin tonight and run through Monday
afternoon.

Conditions will gradually improve for the middle and latter
portion of next week, although a somewhat showery and breezy
trade wind pattern will likely persist.

&&

.AVIATION...
A strong cold front is moving through the island chain. The front
is bringing low cigs, SHRA and strengthening north winds to
Kauai, Oahu and Maui County this morning with the Big Island later
this evening. IFR to MVFR conds expected, with localized LIFR
conds, with FROPA.

AIRMET Sierra is in effect for mtn obsc from Kauai to Maui and
will likely linger overnight. It will most likely be expanded to
the Big Island later today. If conds deteriorate further Sierra
may be needed for IFR conds.

AIRMET Tango for mod turb will likely become necessary this
morning as winds increase.

&&

.MARINE...
A front is currently over the Kaiwi Channel and is expected to
stall and dissipate over Maui County later today. ASCAT pass
overnight showed widespread strong northerly winds behind the
front, and these strong winds should fill in over Maui County
behind the dissipating front. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA)
remains in effect across the waters surrounding the smaller
islands today. Over Big Island waters, gentle to moderate east to
southeast winds will give way to strengthening easterly winds by
tonight. Thus the Small Craft Advisory for Big Island waters
start this evening.

As the high expands and strengthens on Sunday, trade winds will
strengthen to near gale to gale force over most waters Sunday
afternoon through Monday. Due to the strengthening trades, a Gale
Watch has been issued starting Sunday for all Hawaiian waters.
In addition, expect heavy showers over most waters Saturday
through Monday with some isolated thunderstorms especially over
select leeward waters Sunday through Monday. Winds are expected
to ease some on Tuesday, but still remain in the strong range
with some near gales over the windier waters through at least
Wednesday.

A large west-northwest swell (295-310 degrees) has peaked
overnight across most areas and will be trending lower throughout
the day today. Recent observations at buoys 51001 and 51101
northwest of Kauai indicate a steady decline over the past 8 hours
and we should see surf drop below High Surf Warning thresholds
this afternoon. A High Surf Warning (HSW) remains in place for
exposed north and west facing shores for today, but it should be
downgraded to an advisory later this afternoon and drop below
advisory thresholds by Sunday morning. Over on the Big Island, we
should see a steady rise throughout the day today along west
facing shores and a High Surf Advisory is in effect. Small to
moderate north-northwest to northwest swells will prevail through
the remainder of next week.

Surf along east facing shores will significantly ramp up Sunday
into Monday as the trade winds strengthen, with surf heights exceeding
the advisory level by Sunday night. Surf heights may potentially
get close to warning levels along east facing shores of Kauai and
Oahu on Monday. Large east shore surf will slowly decline Tuesday
into Wednesday, but remain elevated through the remainder of the
week. Surf along south facing shores will remain small with some
small background south-southwest energy expected throughout the
first half of next week. Select southern exposures exposed to the
wind swell will likely see some larger waves.

&&

.HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Surf Warning until 6 PM HST this evening for Niihau-Kauai
Leeward-Waianae Coast-Oahu North Shore-Maui Windward West-Kauai
North-Molokai Windward-Molokai North-Molokai West-Maui Central
Valley North-Windward Haleakala.

Flood Watch from noon HST today through Monday afternoon for
Niihau-Kauai Leeward-Kauai Mountains-Waianae Coast-Oahu North
Shore-Olomana-Central Oahu-Waianae Mountains-Lanai Mauka-
Kahoolawe-Maui Windward West-Maui Leeward West-Haleakala Summit-
Kona-Kohala-Big Island Interior-Kauai North-Kauai East-Kauai
South-East Honolulu-Honolulu Metro-Ewa Plain-Koolau Windward-
Koolau Leeward-Molokai-Lanai Windward-Lanai Leeward-Lanai South-
Maui Central Valley North-Maui Central Valley South-Windward
Haleakala-Kipahulu-South Maui/Upcountry-South Haleakala-Big
Island South-Big Island Southeast-Big Island East-Big Island
North.

High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon for
Kauai Leeward-Kauai Mountains-Waianae Coast-Central Oahu-Waianae
Mountains-Lanai Mauka-Kahoolawe-Maui Leeward West-Kohala-Big
Island Interior-Kauai South-Honolulu Metro-Ewa Plain-Koolau
Leeward-Molokai West-Molokai Leeward South-Lanai Windward-Lanai
Leeward-Lanai South-Maui Central Valley North-Maui Central
Valley South.

High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST this evening for Kona-Kohala.

Winter Storm Watch from this evening through Monday afternoon
for Big Island Summits.

Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Sunday for Kauai Northwest
Waters-Kauai Windward Waters-Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Channel-
Oahu Windward Waters-Oahu Leeward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Maui
County Windward Waters-Maui County Leeward Waters-Maalaea Bay-
Pailolo Channel-Alenuihaha Channel.

Gale Watch from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon for all
Hawaiian waters-

Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM HST Sunday
for Big Island Windward Waters-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big
Island Southeast Waters.

&&

DISCUSSION...Jelsema
AVIATION...Walsh
MARINE...Kino

The radar

The Molokai radar (PHMO), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high wind, 2 flash flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Ewa Plain

When
February 7, 5:00 AM HST to 6:00 AM HST
Where
Ewa Plain forecast zone
Measured
35 kt (40 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An NWS employee reported large trees down in Kapolei Parkway by Costco due to winds.

Flash Flood, Hawaii

When
February 7, 7:00 PM HST to 8:00 PM HST
Where
Hawaii County, 2.12 mi WNW of Laupahoehoe to 1 mi SSW of Laupahoehoe
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
19.992, -155.260

Law Enforcement reported landslides in Laupahoehoe Gulch, Kawaili Gulch, and Maulua Gulch.

High Wind, Honolulu Metro

When
February 8, 6:00 AM HST to 6:00 PM HST
Where
Honolulu Metro forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The public and the Fire Department reported multiple wind impacts in downtown Honolulu and Kalihi. A tree fell on power lines, which damaged two cars. Additionally a roof sustained damage due to the winds.

High Wind, Honolulu Metro

When
February 8, 7:00 AM HST to 8:00 AM HST
Where
Honolulu Metro forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large tree snapped near the intersection of Beratania St. and Ward avenue.

Heavy Rain, Hawaii

When
February 8, 8:00 AM HST to 8:00 PM HST
Where
Hawaii County, 1.1 mi WSW of Kukuihaele to 0.44 mi WSW of Kukuihaele
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
20.111, -155.594

Hawaii County Civil Defense reported landslides along Waipio Valley Access Rd. The road was shut down as a result.

High Wind, Waianae Coast

When
February 8, 5:00 PM HST to 8:00 PM HST
Where
Waianae Coast forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A portion of a condo building roof was blown off due to the strong winds.

High Wind, Windward Haleakala

When
February 8, 8:00 PM HST to February 9, 6:00 AM HST
Where
Windward Haleakala forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple roads were closed due to downed trees and power lines. These roads included Baldwin Ave at Kee Road, Piiholo Road north of Mahiai Place, and Olinda Road at Piiholo Road intersection.

Flash Flood, Maui

When
February 8, 10:00 PM HST to February 9, 1:00 AM HST
Where
Maui County, 0.62 mi WSW of Waianapanapa Sp to 1.93 mi NW of Hamoa
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
20.775, -156.008

Waikoloa Road in Hana was closed due to rising river water and flooding.

High Wind, Maui Leeward West

When
February 9, 7:00 PM HST to 11:59 PM HST
Where
Maui Leeward West forecast zone
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power outages affected approximately 8,800 customers.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
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.
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

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, February 2026

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: 1311972, 1320988, 1311976, 1311974, 1320991, 1311978, 1311979, 1311977, 1311980.