Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Hawaii Island Feels Wet & Heavy -- Severe Weather Flash Flood Watch – Blowing Snow?

Skies darkened deeper yesterday with each passing hour here on Hawaii Island’s most easterly point; Cape Kumukahi, Kapoho. Heavy rains soon followed, continuing most of the night. This morning, though, it is not presently raining along the coast but again sprawling dark masses of rain clouds hover offshore as forecasters continue calling for increasing rains tonight through Thursday night. A Flood Watch remains for all Hawaiian Islands through Thursday night. Thunderstorms possible. The radar image below of the Hawaii Islands shows a satellite's view of the dark offshore cloud I am now looking at out my window:
You can watch the updated radar image loop for just the Big Island on this link.

Summits of our two volcano monoliths – Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea - have severe winter weather storm watches posted, with possible heavy & wind-blown snow accumulations. Clouds currently shroud these mountain tops but Mauna Kea Webcams reveal no snow accumulated overnight. Save the link to these cams and check them tomorrow morning for signs of overnight snowfalls.

Lava Flow Conditions:
Cloudy skies have lifted high enough that I can see the ocean entry lava plume billowing up strongly from my upper lanai – eighteen miles distant. Despite continued fluctuations of weakened magma pressure within Kilauea Volcano, as reflected by today’s deformation graphs , lava continues to advance as hotspots across the coastal lava fields and ocean entries.

The heavy rains may hinder viewing or even close the County Lava Viewing area so it might be a good idea to phone the Civil Defense Hotline at 961-8093 before heading out there. They update that information around 2:00 PM seven days per week. Viewing hours are from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (but usually close closer to (9:30 PM)

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