A powerful Kona storm is expected to affect the state beginning today into the weekend, bringing several potential hazards to the islands including significant flash flooding, damaging winds, and strong to severe thunderstorms. Flooding concerns begin for Kauai today, Oahu tonight, then expands eastward across the island chain later in the week. The potential for strong to severe thunderstorms and significant flash flooding is expected to increase late in the week and into the weekend.
Issued at 939 AM HST Tue Mar 10 2026
Heavy showers with embedded thunderstorms are approaching Kauai early this morning as a powerful Kona low develops northwest of the islands. These bands will overspread Kauai through the day and spread to Oahu tonight, bringing periods of MVFR conditions with brief IFR or LIFR CIGS/VSBYS possible in the heavier showers and storms. These impacts are expected to gradually spread eastward down the island chain by midweek. Light to moderate southeast winds will gradually veer southerly and strengthen over the western end of the state through today as the pressure gradient tightens.
AIRMET ZULU remains in effect for light icing over Kauai and Oahu. AIRMET SIERRA remains in effect for mountain obscuration along the east through south slopes of Kauai and Oahu, but will likely be updated to include all of Kauai later this morning. Additionally, AIRMET TANGO for moderate turbulence may become necessary later today.
Issued at 939 AM HST Tue Mar 10 2026
A powerful Kona storm is expected to bring heavy rain, thunderstorms, and rough seas to the islands and adjacent waters beginning today and lasting at least into the weekend. Winds will veer southerly and increase to fresh to locally strong speeds through late this week as the Kona storm approaches. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is in effect for waters north and west of Kauai this morning and will expand to include the Kauai Channel tonight. The SCA lasts through Wednesday evening, beyond which a relative lull in southerly winds is anticipated. Later this week, possibly as early as Thursday night, a reintensification of the front over the islands will cause winds to approach, or possibly reach, gale force for portions of the area. These strong winds will slowly creep eastward heading into the weekend.
A series of small, medium- to long-period west-northwest swells will bring small surf to north and west facing shores through the rest of the week. The first of these will build today and peak on Wednesday, resulting in a slight bump in surf along north and west-facing shores. Additionally, a small, medium-period north swell is also possible late this week.
Choppy surf along east-facing shores will continue to trend downward, falling below seasonal levels on Wednesday as winds veer southerly. With the shift of wind direction, surf along south-facing shores will increase, becoming rough and choppy. Another round of stronger southerly winds will cause south shore surf to build further late this week, meanwhile a series of small, long- period south swells moves through.
Flood Watch through Saturday afternoon for Kauai East-Kauai Mountains-Kauai North-Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Niihau.
Flood Watch from 6 PM HST this evening through Saturday afternoon for Central Oahu-East Honolulu-Ewa Plain-Honolulu Metro-Koolau Leeward-Koolau Windward-Oahu North Shore-Olomana- Waianae Coast-Waianae Mountains.
Flood Watch from Wednesday morning through Saturday afternoon for Haleakala Summit-Kahoolawe-Kipahulu-Lanai Leeward-Lanai Mauka-Lanai South-Lanai Windward-Maui Central Valley North-Maui Central Valley South-Maui Leeward West-Maui Windward West- Molokai Leeward South-Molokai North-Molokai Southeast-Molokai West-Molokai Windward-South Haleakala-South Maui/Upcountry- Windward Haleakala.
Flood Watch from Wednesday evening through Saturday afternoon for Big Island East-Big Island Interior-Big Island North-Big Island South-Big Island Southeast-Kohala-Kona.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Wednesday for Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Northwest Waters-Kauai Windward Waters.
Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM HST Wednesday for Kauai Channel.
