Heavy Rain in Hawaii

Events

2,157

Deaths

6

Injuries

2

Damage

$15 million

• Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Hawaii, February 15 to 19, 20182 deaths · 50 kt wind · 18 eventsWith a weakening front over the islands and an upper low northwest of Kauai, heavy showers and thunderstorms developed over the state. Drenching rain led to periods of flash flooding over several isles, and gusty winds downed trees and power lines.
• Heavy Rain in Hawaii, February 26 to 28, 20212 deaths · 7 eventsGusty trade winds helped keep showers moving as an upper trough induced downpours from the Big Island to Oahu. The precipitation caused ponding on roadways, and small stream and drainage ditch flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 20 to 23, 202610 injured · $1.0 billion · 6 eventsA cutoff low moved in from the northwest and pulled deep tropical moisture from the south over the Hawaiian islands. This led to the development of prolonged slow moving heavy rain and thunderstorms.
• Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, November 26 to 27, 20092 deaths · 3 eventsAn upper trough moving over the islands from the northwest spawned heavy rain and flash flooding conditions. A married couple from Hana, Maui, were apparently swept away by swollen stream waters on Thanksgiving night as they tried to make their way back to their home.
• Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, August 27 to 28, 20181 death · $1.5 million · 9 eventsMore heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms developed over parts of the island chain as Lane moved away from the state to the west. Some of the precipitation caused flash flooding on Kauai, the Big Island, and Oahu.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Hawaii, March 6 to 11, 2021$53 million · 27 eventsA slow-moving surface trough, heading east to west, and an upper disturbance triggered heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms that caused flash flooding in some instances. Damages occurred to public and private property, including roads and bridges washed out.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Hawaii, February 20 to 24, 20131 death · 20 eventsHeavy rain brought flash flooding, mainly to the Valley Isle of Maui. There were no reports of serious injuries. The costs of any property damage were not available.
• Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 27 to 31, 2020$31 million · 11 eventsA disturbance aloft moved toward the islands and brought a bout of heavy showers and thunderstorms, especially over the western portion of the Aloha State.
• Flash Flooding and Winter Storm in Hawaii, December 1 to 5, 20161 death · $1,000 · 18 eventsAn upper low and a separate upper trough generated heavy rain and showers, isolated thunderstorms, and flash flooding over much of the Aloha State. The features also produced snow and blustery weather to the upper elevations of the Big Island of Hawaii.
• High Surf and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 13 to 15, 20091 death · 16 eventsA strong low north of the Aloha State generated surf of 15 to 25 feet along the north-facing shores, and 8 to 15 feet along the east-facing shores, of all islands except Lanai. The especially high surf kept lifeguards busy helping people in distress.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Hawaii, April 11 to 16, 2018$20 million · 15 eventsA developing upper low northwest of the state, in combination with tropical moisture, induced periods of heavy showers and thunderstorms, and generated historic flash flooding conditions over the Garden Isle of Kauai.
• Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, July 10 to 12, 20111 death · 1 injured · 3 eventsThe atmosphere near the islands became unstable as a mid-level trough moved through the area. The Big Island of Hawaii and Maui saw the most significant rainfall from this feature.
• Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, February 17 to 19, 20211 death · 9 eventsA surface front stalled near Kauai, along with an upper trough, brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to parts of the Aloha State, and flash flooding to Kauai.
• Flash Flood and High Wind in Hawaii, January 21 to 25, 20141 death · 109 kt wind · 4 eventsA cold front moved rapidly through the Aloha State. There were only limited areas of heavy rain as the system moved from west to east across the island chain, though a flash flood did occur in East Maui.
• Heavy Rain in Hawaii, January 26 to 27, 20181 death · 3 eventsShowers and isolated thunderstorms, generated by an upper trough and afternoon heating, produced ponding on roadways, and small stream and drainage ditch flooding over several isles.
• Hurricane and Flash Flooding in Hawaii, August 22 to 26, 2018$7.1 million · 25 eventsWith Hurricane Lane just west of the Big Island of Hawaii, and south of Maui County and Oahu, torrential rain fell over parts of the state, especially the Big Island.
• Heavy Rain in Hawaii, November 5 to 16, 1996$15 million · 1 eventRecord breaking rainfall produced widespread flooding with associated mud and rock slides, road closures, blocked drainage systems, and overwhelmed waste disposal systems. Damage to public and private property and agriculture was substantial.
• Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, May 1 to 2, 2022$1.2 million · 5 eventsAn upper air disturbance caused heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms. Early on in the episode, a flash flood occurred over a portion of Maui along Piilani Highway.
• Flash Flooding and High Surf in Hawaii, December 10 to 13, 2011$215,000 · 25 eventsUpper air instability caused strong winds over portions of the Big Island and Maui, and induced showers and thunderstorms from the Big Island to Oahu.
• Heavy Rain and Strong Wind in Hawaii, March 3 to 6, 2011$350,000 · 11 eventsA cold front moving from the northwest brought periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms to the island chain from Kauai to Maui.
• Flash Flooding and High Wind in Hawaii, February 7 to 9, 2026$360,000 · 61 kt wind · 9 eventsA 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.
• Flash Flood and High Wind in Hawaii, August 7 to 11, 2014$100,000 · 54 kt wind · 16 eventsThe impacts of Tropical Storm Iselle were mainly sustained over the east and southeast portions of the Big Island of Hawaii, in the Puna and Kau Districts.
• Strong Wind and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, February 5 to 6, 2017$120,000 · 6 eventsA front brought gusty southwest winds and periods of heavy rain to the island chain. The winds downed power lines that resulted in more than 25,000 customers losing electricity for a time in Oahu's windward side.
• Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in Hawaii, July 28 to 31, 20131 injured · $24,000 · 30 eventsFlossie, 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.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in Hawaii, February 13 to 14, 20151 injured · $35,000 · 52 kt wind · 20 eventsA cold front with gusty winds, the second in a week, moved through the Aloha State. This system also brought more precipitation than the previous one. Two injuries during this episode were severe enough to send two individuals to the hospital.

Heavy Rain everywhereEvery kind of event in Hawaii

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.