Tropical storm Hone swept through the southern part of Hawaii on Sunday, August 25th, bringing heavy flooding, submerging multiple roads, and leaving tens of thousands of households without power. The Governor of Hawaii declared a state of emergency in response to the storm.
Jon Jelsema, senior forecaster at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu, stated that on Sunday morning, Hone reached maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (140 kilometers per hour) as it moved westward, with its center located about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of the Big Island. He mentioned that strong winds swept across the southeastern slopes of the Big Island, bringing rainfall of up to one foot (30 centimeters) or more.
Jelsema also reported on Sunday that the affected areas experienced heavy winds and rains, resulting in flooded roads. In windward areas of the Big Island, the flooding has cut off access to certain roads. This area is currently the only region in the state affected by flooding.
A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Hawaii Island, and communities like Hilo have been enduring relentless bouts of severe weather with multiple roads closed due to flooding.
According to PowerOutage.us, as of the time of reporting, 19,594 customers in Hawaii were impacted by power outages.
Prior to the storm’s arrival, Hawaii County Mayor Mitchell D. Roth declared a state of emergency and urged residents to prepare for the storm’s impacts.
Governor of Hawaii Josh Green also issued a statement declaring a state of emergency for the entire state of Hawaii, which is expected to remain in effect at least until next Monday.
Shelters on the Big Island have been opened to provide residents with a safe haven.
Due to the flooding and downed trees, many roads have been closed, causing disruptions to travel.
(This article references reports from Fox and the Associated Press.)