Heavy rainfall on the way for drought-stricken Hawaii
A weathermaker known as a Kona low will allow torrential downpours to target the islands and raise the risk of flash flooding. The same storm system could even allow some snow to fall in the highest elevations.
AccuWeather Global Weather Center – December 3, 2021 – A potent storm with heavy rainfall will take aim at the drought-stricken island chain of Hawaii late in the week, but this much-needed rain could trigger flash flooding and mudslides as well.
As of Dec. 1, Hawaii is abnormally dry, according to the United States Drought Monitor, with about 29 percent of the Hawaiian Islands in severe drought conditions or worse. On the island of Oahu, Honolulu recorded just 3% of its average rainfall throughout the month of November, and the same can be said since the beginning of October. In fact, since July 1, the city has only reported 10% of its average precipitation.
The Big Island has also been hit hard by this drought. Hilo received only a fraction of its average rainfall, less than 40% throughout the month of November. In Kailua, the November rainfall was a measly 12% of normal.
As for the island of Maui, when winds from the east come down from the mountains, this can restrict precipitation and cause the land to dry out, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Carl Babinski. Sugar cane that is grown on the island can become increasingly flammable as drought wages on.
