UPDATE: 8:05 p.m.
The flash flood warning has been extended for Oahu until 11 p.m. today.
“At 7:49 p.m., emergency management reported numerous closed roads due to flooding from earlier today,” the updated National Weather Service warning said. “Latest radar shows a decrease in shower intensity, but heavy showers will be possible tonight. The Wahiawa Reservoir remains elevated and will continue to be a concern due to additional heavy rain expected over the next few days.”
Forecasters said that some locations that will experience flash flooding include Wahiawa, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field, Haleiwa, Waialua, Mililani, Hauula, Laie, Waianae, Punaluu, Kahuku, Nanakuli, Waikane, Kaaawa, Helemano Housing, Whitmore Village, Waimea Valley, Waimea Bay, Mokuleia and Pupukea.
In addition, the flood advisory for Maui has been extended until 10:30 p.m. with moderate to locally heavy rain expected to move in from the south over the next few hours, NWS said.
Some locations that may experience flooding include Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, Kula, Pukalani, Makawao, Keokea, Haliimaile, Paia, Puunene, Haiku-Pauwela, Wailea, Pauwela, Maalaea, Ulupalakua, Huelo, Makena, Waikapu, Wailuku and Waiehu.
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>> RELATED: A list of evacuation shelters, assembly areas and closures
The entire state is under a flood watch through Sunday afternoon, and a winter storm watch has been issued from 6 p.m. Saturday through Sunday afternoon for Big Island summits above 12,000 feet.
Heavy snow is possible with total accumulations up to 10 inches and wind gusts as high as 70 mph.
6:45 p.m.
Hawaiian Electric officials said nearly 6,800 customers were without power statewide this evening, including about 4,200 in the evacuation areas on Oahu’s North Shore.
As of 4 p.m., 6,400 customers were without power on Oahu, 230 on Hawaii island in Wood Valley, Kapoho and various pockets around the island; and 165 in Maui County, mainly in Kula, Haleakala Crater, HECO said.
Officials said once mandatory flood evacuation orders are lifted in Waialua and Haleiwa, crews will inspect infrastructure to determine when it will be safe to restore power to customers affected by a proactive power shutoff due to the catastrophic flooding.
But if the evacuation notice is lifted after dark, crews must wait for daylight to begin inspections. After inspections are completed, it will take around four hours to safely restore power to the 4,200 customers, barring any major repairs, HECO officials said
Officials said to ensure that power is restored safely, North Shore customers who return to their properties must:
>> Immediately turn off appliances and shut off the main breaker;
>> Wait for Hawaiian Electric to announce it is safe to turn on the breaker;
Hawaiian Electric crews shut off power this morning to support emergency response operations, including search and rescue efforts in Waialua and Haleiwa, officials said.
“With a second Kona-low storm moving across the state, customers on Oahu, Hawaii island and in Maui County should remain prepared for the possibility of new or prolonged outages,” officials said in a news release. “Saturated grounds and moderate winds may cause partially uprooted trees to fall on power lines or topple poles.”
6 p.m.
The flash flood warning for Oahu has been extended until 9 p.m.
“At 5:47 p.m., radar indicated moderate rain over parts of Leeward and East Oahu,” the updated National Weather Service warning said. “Rain was falling at a rate of 0.25 to 0.75 inches per hour. Although rain rates are modest due to the recent rainfall, severe ponding of water will be possible over select areas. Additional bands of moderate to locally heavy showers will be possible through this evening.”
Forecasters said some locations that will experience flash flooding include Honolulu, Waipio, Moanalua, Halawa, Salt Lake, Aiea, Kalihi, Pearl City, Ahuimanu, Iroquois Point, Manoa, Kahaluu, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Waipahu, Waikele, Palolo, Maunawili, Waikane and Ewa Beach.
Maui remains under a flood advisory until 7:30 p.m. but Molokai and Lanai are no longer under flood advisories.
“At 5:49 p.m., radar indicated heavy rain has briefly decreased over Maui,” the updated advisory said. “Additional bands of moderate to locally heavy rain is expected to move in from the south over the next hour.”
5:20 p.m.
Honolulu emergency officials have updated the evacuation area for parts of the North Shore, including Waialua and Haleiwa, and ask the public to stay out of the area.
“Wahiawa Dam levels are trending down but more rain is expected and officials officials continue to monitor. The public is asked to remain out the mapped area due to a number of hazardous conditions,” city officials said in the updated alert.
Officials said members of the public should leave immediately of they are still in the evacuation area and to call 911 if you need assistance evacuating.
They said evacuees should:
>> Gather family members. Assist neighbors who need help evacuating if you can do so safely.
>>. Bring pets if you can locate and secure them quickly.
>> Do not delay to pack or prepare your home. Take only essential items you have ready to go NOW.
>> Alert neighbors who may not have received this message if you are able to do so safely and quickly.
They continue to advise the public not to walk or drive through moving water or on flooded roadways; call 911 for emergencies only; and stay out of the area until emergency officials advise it is safe to return.
5 p.m.
The flash flood warning for Oahu has been extended until 8 p.m. with locally heavy showers hitting the island again this evening.
“At 4:46 p.m., emergency management reported several roads still closed due to flooding from earlier today,” the updated warning said. “Latest radar as of 4:45 p.m. is showing moderate to locally heavy showers with rain rates of 0.25 to 1 inch per hour with the heaviest rain over Wahiawa. The Wahiawa Reservoir has decreased from earlier today but still remains a concern due to additional heavy rain expected over the next few days.”
Forecasters said some locations that will experience flash flooding include Wahiawa, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field, Haleiwa, Waialua, Mililani, Hauula, Laie, Waianae, Punaluu, Kahuku, Nanakuli, Waikane, Kaaawa, Helemano Housing, Whitmore Village, Waimea Valley, Waimea Bay, Mokuleia and Pupukea.
The islands of Maui County remain under a flood advisory and the entire state is under a flood watch until Sunday afternoon as the Kona-low storm systems threatens more heavy rain over the weekend.
4:20 p.m.
Maui Emergency Management Agency officials have issued evacuation warnings for Iao Valley in Central Maui and parts of Kihei in South Maui due to the potential flooding threat to life and property as the Kona-low rains hit the island.
MEMA officials noted that warnings and advisories are not mandatory evacuation orders.
To view whether your neighborhood is under MEMA evacuation warning or advisory, visit Genasys Protect app at protect.genasys.com.
Shelters opened at 3 p.m. today in South Maui (South Maui Community Park Gym, 1501 Liloa Drive, Kihei) and will open at 7 p.m. in Central Maui (Baldwin High School gym, 1650 Kaahumanu Ave., Wailuku).
Earlier today, Iao and Kihei areas were placed under MEMA evacuation advisory earlier today and Thursday night. Other vulnerable areas around Maui County remain under evacuation advisories, including areas in East Molokai, Lahaina and East Maui.
>> RELATED: A list of evacuation shelters, assembly areas and closures
4 p.m.
The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Oahu until 6 p.m.
“At 3:51 p.m., radar indicated an area of heavy rain offshore that will move through East Oahu within the next hour,” the updated warning says. “Rain rates with that area are in the 1 to 2 inch per hour range. This additional rainfall could exacerbate existing flooding and result in additional impacts.”
Forecasters said some locations that will experience flash flooding include Honolulu, Waipio, Moanalua, Halawa, Salt Lake, Aiea, Kalihi, Pearl City, Ahuimanu, Iroquois Point, Manoa, Kahaluu, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Waipahu, Waikele, Palolo, Maunawili, Waikane and Ewa Beach.
Flood risks across the islands are expected to persist into the weekend as a flood watch remains in effect statewide through Sunday afternoon, with forecasters warning that multiple rounds of heavy rain tied to a developing Kona low could continue to trigger dangerous conditions.
The National Weather Service said the flood watch covers all islands, with “flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall” possible as the system strengthens west of the state and pulls deep moisture northward.
Forecasters said the heaviest rain is expected to continue through Saturday for most islands, with Hawaii island likely seeing its heaviest impacts on Sunday, raising the potential for significant flooding in streams, roads and low-lying areas, along with possible landslides in steep terrain.
The ongoing flooding emergency on Oahu remains the most immediate concern, with saturated ground and elevated stream levels increasing the risk that additional rainfall could quickly worsen already catastrophic conditions, particularly along the Kaukonahua Stream downstream of the Wahiawa Dam.
At the same time, forecasters are also tracking a separate hazard tied to the same storm system, issuing a winter storm watch for Hawaii island summits above 12,000 feet from Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon.
Weather officials said heavy snow of up to 10 inches and wind gusts as high as 70 mph are possible at the summits, creating potentially impossible travel conditions with blowing snow and near-zero visibility at times.
2:30 p.m.
All islands of Maui County are under flood advisories this afternoon as the Kona-low storm system that has pummeled Oahu today slowly moves east.
In addition, the Maui Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation advisory this morning for Wahikuli and Leialii areas below Ka Laʻi Ola in Lahaina due to nearby retention basins nearing capacity.
“County of Maui contracted crews are actively working to redirect overflow and actively pumping water from the Lahaina basin to help keep levels safe. Warnings and advisories are NOT mandatory evacuation orders,” MEMA’s advisory said.
Additional areas under evacuation advisories are high-risk neighborhoods in South Maui, along with moderate risk portions of ʻĪao, East Molokai, Lahaina and East Maui.
2:05 p.m.
Flooding concerns continued to expand across the state today as a new flood advisory was issued for Lanai, adding to ongoing warnings and advisories for Oahu and Maui.
The National Weather Service said at 2:03 p.m., a flood advisory is now in effect for the island of Lanai until 5:15 p.m., as heavy rain moves across the area and creates the potential for minor flooding.
Radar at 2:02 p.m. showed bands of heavy rain moving over Lanai with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.
Forecasters warned that low-lying roads, poor drainage areas and streams could see minor flooding, with some low-water crossings becoming impassable as runoff increases.
This marks a continued expansion of weather alerts beyond Oahu, where a flash flood warning tied to a possible failure of the Wahiawa Dam remains in effect into Saturday, and a flash flood emergency continues for parts of the North Shore through this afternoon.
Officials said the Lanai advisory could be extended beyond 5:15 p.m. if heavy rain persists, as conditions remain unstable across multiple islands with additional showers moving through.
1:40 p.m.
Flooding threats across the islands intensified as forecasters extended multiple warnings on Oahu tied to a possible dam failure and issued a new flood advisory for Maui.
The National Weather Service said at 1:05 p.m. it has extended the flash flood warning tied to the imminent failure of the Wahiawa Dam along the Kaukonahua Stream until 1:15 p.m. Saturday, signaling a prolonged and dangerous situation downstream.
Emergency officials continue to report the dam failure threat remains imminent, with flooding already occurring along the Kaukonahua Stream and expected to continue affecting areas including Waialua and Haleiwa as water moves through the system.
At the same time, a separate flash flood warning remains in effect for Oahu through 5 p.m. today, with a flash flood emergency continuing for the North Shore as emergency management reports ongoing severe flooding impacts.
Weather officials warned that streams and the Wahiawa reservoir remain elevated and that additional heavy rain later today could worsen conditions and trigger further rises in water levels.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation. Seek higher ground now!” the agency said, noting that significant property damage is ongoing and likely to continue as flooding persists.
The evolving situation is no longer limited to Oahu, with a new flood advisory issued for Maui until 4:30 p.m. today as heavy rain spreads across the island. Radar showed rainfall rates of about 0.5 to 1.5 inches per hour, with minor flooding expected in low-lying areas, roads and drainage systems.
Officials warned that all warnings could be extended as conditions develop, with flooding driven not only by ongoing rainfall but also by runoff and elevated stream levels, even during temporary lulls in precipitation.
1:30 p.m.
The Hawaii National Guard and the Coast Guard are responding to the flooding on the North Shore, while active duty Army troops are on standby to assist if the state sends them a request for help and day-to-day military operations are being scaled back in response to the flooding.
The Hawaii National Guard has sent High Water Vehicle Teams to the North Shore to help people get out of flooded areas. Haleiwa resident Kevan Scott, who is currently staying put, told the Star-Advertiser by phone that he saw “huge military transports patrolling streets, saying, you do not use your own vehicle if you need to go, we will take you out.”
He said troops have been knocking on doors offering evacuation assistance to anyone who wants it.
The Coast Guard said that at about 6:20 a.m. this morning it received a request from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for assistance with possible search and rescue operations in the vicinity of Haleiwa.
A Coast Guard spokeperson said that to “confirm the status of any missing or distressed people, the Coast Guard has launched boat, cutter, and aircraft crews to search the area and is working closely with state and county partners to gather additional information and coordinate response efforts.”
The Coast Guard has dispatched the crews the fast response cutter CGC Oliver Berry and medium endurance cutter CGC Harriet Lane to the area and a boat crew from Station Honolulu are on scene responding to the incident.
A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point is also conducting overflights scanning the area.
A spokesperson from Army Garrison Hawaii said that troops at the base have prepared vehicles capable of navigating heavily flooded areas and are keeping them on standby if the state requests their assistance. Seven Army families living in the flooded area have evacuated and are currently sheltering at the Schofield Barracks.
Army Garrison Hawaii has told personnel that to avoid traveling unnecessarily, advising only “mission critical personnel” to go to work. A Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam spokesperson also said Navy leadership has “limited access to Wahiawa Annex to mission essential personnel only. JBPHH leadership is keeping personnel and residents informed about localized flooding and the effects of the Kona storm system via email and social media.”
UPDATE: 1:05 p.m.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi warned the public not to underestimate the ongoing storm, emphasizing its unpredictability and growing impact. He noted that while there may be brief breaks in rainfall, the threat is far from over.
“The prediction for more rainfall through tomorrow night is real,” he said at a noon news conference. “We are already at high level marks. The ground has been really saturated.”
Blangiardi said officials are monitoring dam conditions closely and feel confident about their stability, but warned that sudden surges of rain remain a major concern.
“It’s hard to predict the amount of rain that comes in these surges and what that could cause,” he said.
About 5,500 people are in evacuation areas on the North Shore, as search and rescue efforts continue, he said.
Blangiardi described the damage so far as “catastrophic,” with roads impassable and potentially dozens to hundreds of homes affected.
Honolulu city spokesperson Ian Scheuring said the situation remains an active emergency, with evacuation orders still in place and rescue operations ongoing.
“As of noon today, the evacuation order for those who live downstream of the Wahiawa dam remains in effect,” he said. “People are not cleared to go back.”
Officials urged residents to call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies. For non-emergency assistance or urgent information, the city’s Emergency Operations Center can be reached at 808-723-8960.
According to the National Weather Service, a temporary lull in heavy rain is affecting the North Shore and Central Oahu, while conditions have shifted east toward areas like Kailua and Waimanalo. However, more heavy rain is expected later today.
All of Oahu is under a flash flood warning this afternoon, while Molokai is under a flood advisory until 2:30 p.m. as the storm system slowly moves east.
Five evacuation centers are open at Wahiawa District Park, Leilehua High School, Mililani District Park, Kahuku High School and Nanakuli High School. At least 54 people were sheltering there as of about noon, although that number is expected to change.
Officials reported multiple road closures along Kamehameha Highway, including in Laie, near Kualoa and in Waimea due to landslides.
Blangiardi also addressed concerns about possible dam failure, saying conditions are currently stable but uncertain.
He said a NWS’ warning refers to the possibility of water overtopping the dam, adding that while there is no immediate threat, the unpredictable nature of the rain surges makes the situation difficult to forecast with certainty.
Scheuring added that evacuation efforts are underway for about 70 people stranded at Our Lady of Keaau on the Waianae Coast, including children and kupuna.
“The city, the state and the National Guard are facilitating that evacuation,” he said, noting that airlifts have been used to bring people to safety.
NWS, meanwhile, has extended the flash flood warning for Oahu until 4 p.m.
“At 12:55 PM HST, radar indicated heavy rain continuing to move over East Oahu,” the warning said. “Rain was generally falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Due to elevated stream levels, lingering rain, and the potential for additional heavy showers moving in, the warning will be extended.”
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Honolulu, Waipio, Moanalua, Halawa, Salt Lake, Aiea, Kalihi, Pearl City, Ahuimanu, Iroquois Point, Manoa, Kahaluu, Kaneohe, Waiahole, Waipahu, Waikele, Palolo, Maunawili, Waikane and Ewa Beach.
UPDATE: 12:10 p.m.
The water level behind Wahiawa dam has decreased to 83.7 feet as of noon, after a sharp rise that began Thursday night and reached as high as 85.3 feet earlier this morning at around 8:30 a.m., according to U.S. Geological Survey monitoring.
The rising waters earlier, combined with projections for more rain ahead, led the Oahu Department of Emergency Management to issue a dam failure warning and evacuation notice for people downstream in Waialua and Haleiwa at 8:30 a.m. That notice is still in effect with more rain forecast.
The National Weather Service forecasts a prolonged period of heavy rain to possibly continue through Sunday.
12:05 p.m.
The North Shore has experienced the brunt of today’s Kona-low storm, including a house crashing onto the sand at Mokuleia and dozens of residents fleeing flooded homes, according to North Shore Councilmember Matt Weyer.
About 186 North Shore residents and their cats and dogs made their way to Waialua High School where they waited in the dark for a few hours until they were ordered to get aboard a city bus to evacuate to Wailua District Park at about 8 a.m. due to the threat that Wahiawa Dam could fail.
“They started yelling, ‘We gotta go, we gotta go, the dam’s breaking,’” said Tony Espinosa, 63, who woke up to water inside his two-bed, one-bath “plantation shack” in Waialua’s Otake Camp.
Espinosa’s Honda CR-V was flooded and died, but he was rescued by Honolulu Fire Department firefighters who put him and his pups onto a surfboard as the rain pounded and tried to navigate on foot through waist-high flood waters.
He ended up at Waialua High School and then was ordered onto a city bus to get to Waialua District Park, where he regrouped with his two 7-month-old pups, Pepe and Chico.
“I’ve been here 38 years,” Espinosa said. “This is the worst it’s been.”
During last weekend’s storm, Espinosa said police officers banged on his door to tell him to evacuate — but not today.
“There was no evacuation order, whatsoever,” he said. “That was a major failure.”
Others, however, heard tsunami sirens in the early morning while police, fire and Coast Guard members warned people to evacuate immediately.
Several tried to flee in their vehicles, which first floated in fast-moving water before eventually dying.
Blossom “kumu” Sturm, 77, her daughter, Sunshine Sturm, 47, Sunshine’s daughter, Kailani Gore, 5, and their friend, Beth DeLong, 73, were among those evacuees.
Sunshine began packing for a possible evacuation at midnight when she began receiving flash flood alerts and heard the sound of stormwater.
She told her mother, “We may have to evacuate this time.”
They gathered passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards and medications, packed up their Kia Soul to escape but got trapped half-a-mile later by road blocks and floating cars.
“We couldn’t go left or right,” Sunshine said.
They walked back home until 4 a.m. “when we were hearing the big tsunami sirens,” Blossom said. “People were going, ‘Auntie, Auntie, you gotta get out.’”
Back on foot, they were rescued by a neighbor, Noah Pang, who put Blossom in the cab and her daughter and granddaughter in the bed of the dump truck.
On their way to Waialua High School, Pang yelled for anyone on the side of the road to get in, too, and eventually “33 of us were in the back of the dump truck, kids, cats and dogs,” Sunshine said.
11:10 a.m.
All of Oahu is now covered by the National Weather Service’s updated flash flood warning until 2 p.m. today, and a flash flood emergency is ongoing for northern areas of the island.
“At 10:54 a.m., additional water continued to run off into the Wahiawa Reservoir and area streams keeping water levels elevated,” the updated warning says. “Flood impacts from earlier rainfall are ongoing. Despite a lull in rainfall at this time, additional areas of heavy rain are expected through the day which would exacerbate existing flooding.
“This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Northern Oahu. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!”
Heavy rain is producing life-threatening flash flooding, NWS said.
The updated warning said some locations that will experience flash flooding include Wahiawa, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Field, Haleiwa, Waialua, Mililani, Hauula, Laie, Waianae, Punaluu, Kahuku, Nanakuli, Waikane, Kaaawa, Helemano Housing, Whitmore Village, Waimea Valley, Waimea Bay, Mokuleia and Pupukea.
Forecasters warn of flooding in drainages, streams, rivers, roads, properties, and other low-lying areas. Landslides are also possible in steep terrain.
“Stay away from streams, rivers, drainage ditches, and culverts, even if they are currently dry. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of drainage ditches and streams, streets, highways, properties, and other low-lying spots,” the warning says.
10 a.m.
The water level in the Wahiawa reservoir, also known as Lake Wilson, has been rising since Thursday night and reached 85.1 feet as of 9:15 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Ahead of last week’s Kona-low storm, the dam’s owner, Dole Food Co. Hawaii, deployed a portable AquaDam barrier to temporarily increase the dam’s height to 90 feet from 88 feet.
The dam also has a spillway to safely discharge water at the 80-foot level into a lower portion of Kaukonahua Stream. Last week, spillway runoff began at about 1:45 p.m. on Friday and continued through Sunday afternoon, according to Dole.
Dam safety regulators with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources have warned for years that the spillway at the dam, which was originally built in 1906 and rebuilt in 1921, is too narrow to handle a “Probably Maximum Flood.”
USGS reported that the water level in the reservoir behind the dam during the last storm peaked at 82.8 feet last Friday, and then gradually receded to 78.8 feet on Thursday before beginning to rise last night due to more rain.
UPDATE 9:50 a.m.
For safety reasons, Hawaiian Electric has shut off power to about 4,100 customers on Oahu’s North Shore as severe weather continues to impact the state.
Customers on Oahu, Hawaii island and across Maui County are being urged to prepare for possible additional outages as a second storm system moves through. Officials warn that saturated ground and moderate winds could cause weakened trees to fall onto power lines or bring down utility poles.
At the request of fire officials, power was shut off earlier Friday to about 1,300 customers in the Waialua area due to flooding. Additional areas were de-energized shortly before 9 a.m., bringing the total number of affected customers on the North Shore to about 4,100.
UPDATE: 9 a.m.
The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management has clarified that “Wahiawa Dam has not failed but is at imminent risk of failure.”
“Potential life-threatening flooding of downstream areas,” the agency said in a bulletin. “Evacuation order still in effect. LEAVE downstream area NOW! Heavy traffic-Please carpool.”
As of 9 a.m., the water level in the Lake Wilson reservoir created by the dam, in addition to the amount of rain projected to fall in the area today, is enough for the dam to possibly fail, according to Ian Scheuring, a spokesperson for Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
Scheuring said the most likely scenario of a dam failure is water flowing over the top of the dam despite a spillway that channels water above a relatively high level out of the reservoir and downstream.
“That in and of itself can be extraordinarily dangerous,” he said.
An unlikely scenario, Scheuring added, would be for part of the earthen dam to break.
The dam is designed to hold back around 2.6 billion gallons of water.
City officials are advising people who are evacuating Waialua and Haleiwa due to the Wahiawa Dam failure danger to go to city evacuation centers in Wahiawa District Park and Leilehua High School instead of Waialua High School, where an evacuation center is being closed due to the dam failure danger.
The Waialua High School evacuation center had about 185 people earlier this morning, and they are being shuttled to the safe evacuation centers.
Wahiawa District Court is closed today due to severe weather conditions.
All trials and hearings scheduled for today will be rescheduled. Filing deadlines set for Friday have been extended through Monday.
8:40 a.m.
Evacuations are now underway on Oahu’s North Shore after city officials issued an urgent alert warning that failure of the Wahiawa Dam is in progress or expected, dramatically escalating an already dangerous flooding situation.
The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management issued an “Evacuate Now” order at 8:34 a.m. for areas downstream of the Wahiawa Dam, citing the potential for “life-threatening flooding and catastrophic amounts of fast moving water.”
“TAKE ACTION – EVACUATE NOW,” the alert said. “DAM/LEVEE FAILURE IN PROGRESS OR EXPECTED at Wahiawa Dam.”
The mandatory evacuation covers parts of Haleiwa and Waialua, including areas of Haleiwa between Puuiki Street and Kamehameha Highway, and parts of Waialua from Kukea Circle to Otake Camp. Officials warned that conditions could change rapidly as water moves downstream along the Kaukonahua Stream corridor.
Emergency managers said traffic is already heavy and urged residents to carpool if possible. Drivers are being directed away from the flood zone using Kamehameha Highway toward Wahiawa, then onto Kamananui Road and Wilikina Drive, while warning not to use Kaukonahua Road. The Karsten Thot Bridge on Kamehameha Highway is closed, forcing all traffic onto alternate routes.
Assembly areas have been opened at Wahiawa District Park, Leilehua High School and Kahuku Elementary School, while the Waialua High and Intermediate site is closed due to flooding.
Officials are urging residents in the evacuation zone to leave immediately with only essential items, gather family members and assist neighbors if it can be done safely. They also warned people not to walk or drive through moving water and to stay out of evacuated areas until authorities say it is safe to return.
The evacuation order comes shortly after the National Weather Service warned of a possible dam failure and ongoing flash flooding across northern Oahu, with multiple alerts in effect as heavy rain continues to move across the island.
The City and County of Honolulu is closing the emergency shelter at Waialua High School due to worsening flooding on the North Shore, officials said.
Evacuees who would normally go to Waialua High are being redirected to Wahiawa District Park, which remains open. About 180 people and 45 pets were at the Waialua shelter as of the latest check, and authorities are coordinating their relocation.
Honolulu City buses are assisting with evacuations, and law enforcement is on-site to help secure and transport shelter occupants.
Officials said 8 to 12 inches of rain have fallen across the North Shore in the past 12 hours, triggering severe flooding and an active search-and-rescue response. Crews from Honolulu police, fire and Ocean Safety are using jet skis to reach people stranded by floodwaters.
There have been reports of homes being swept off their foundations, though no confirmed reports of individuals being washed away. Rescuers are actively working to reach residents trapped on higher ground.
While some flooding has been reported on the Waianae Coast, officials say the most severe conditions remain on the North Shore.
Door-to-door rescues are underway — with some people rescued froom rooftops on the North Shore — and others have been transported to Wahiawa Hospital with hyperthermia, Gov. Josh Green reported this morning on Hawaii News Now.
“This is spring break, there are 70 people surrounded by water at a camp on the North Shore, many of them kids were…they were not yet evacuated but they were safe,” the governor said.
According to the governor, the Hawaii National Guard will be assisting as soon as it can get into the affected areas.
Some of the roads on the North Shore are impassable. Emergency response vehicles are having trouble moving through waters, Green said.
The flash flood warning has been extended to 11 a.m.
“All resources have been mobilized,” the governor said.
Because rescuers are encountering people with hyperthermia, crews “are going door to door because some may be in crisis and not able to get out,” Green said.
“We’re praying that the rain subsides. It’s a precarious situation.”
The governor said residents should prepare to leave the region. “We want to do in advance before it becomes too dangerous. “
The Wahiawa Dam spillway is reaching dangerously high levels, with “a lot of water spilling everywhere,” Green said.
“People are going to have to be rescued today…The biggest concern if water goes over and compromises the structure of the dam. We’re asking people to calmly move out of the area and evacuate.”
8:30 a.m.
Flooding danger escalated sharply across Oahu today as a new flash flood warning tied to a possible dam failure was issued alongside a broader flood advisory covering much of the island.
The National Weather Service said at 8:22 a.m. that “local law enforcement reported the imminent failure of Wahiawa Dam,” triggering urgent alerts for communities downstream.
The warning focuses on the Wahiawa Dam along the Kaukonahua Stream, where officials warned of sudden and dangerous flooding. The agency said flash flooding from the imminent failure of the dam is expected to affect areas downstream, including Waialua and Haleiwa, and noted that flooding is already being observed along the stream. The warning is in effect until 1:15 p.m. and could be extended if conditions persist.
At the same time, forecasters issued a flood advisory for all of Oahu until 11 a.m., signaling widening impacts beyond the North Shore as heavy rain spreads. Radar at 7:57 a.m. indicated rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over south and east Oahu, with additional bands of rain expected to move through the area during the morning hours.
The advisory covers urban Honolulu and surrounding communities, where officials warned of ponding on roadways, flooding in poor drainage areas and rapid rises in storm water channels and drainage ditches as runoff increases.
The latest alerts add to a flash flood emergency already in place for northern Oahu, creating a layered and rapidly evolving situation across the island. While rainfall has varied in intensity, the weather service warned that additional heavy rain could quickly worsen flooding conditions in multiple regions.
Residents are urged to move to higher ground if they are near streams or downstream areas, avoid travel unless evacuating and stay clear of waterways and flood-prone roads. Officials said both alerts may need to be extended beyond their current end times if flooding continues.
7:45 a.m.
Flooding remains life-threatening across northern Oahu this morning as forecasters extended a flash flood emergency through late morning, warning that conditions could worsen again.
The National Weather Service said at 7:43 a.m. the flash flood warning for Oahu is now in effect until 11 a.m., with “widespread life-threatening flash flooding effects continuing,” especially in Haleiwa and Waialua.
“This is a flash flood emergency for Northern Oahu. This is a particularly dangerous situation. Seek higher ground now!” the agency said in an urgent bulletin that triggered an Emergency Alert System activation request.
While rainfall rates briefly eased, officials warned that runoff is still driving rising water levels across the region.
“Although rainfall rates have temporarily decreased, significant runoff continues to produce high water levels,” the weather service said, noting the Wahiawa Reservoir continues to rise.
That poses an ongoing threat downstream, particularly near Otake Camp in Waialua, where additional rises “could further exacerbate” flooding.
Forecasters say the break may be short-lived.
“Additional bands of heavy rainfall moving in from the southwest will continue over the area throughout the day,” the agency said, warning of renewed flooding as conditions evolve.
On windward Oahu, heavy showers producing 1 to 2 inches of rain per hour are expected to continue, keeping streams elevated in areas including Waiahole Stream, Waikane Stream and Kahana Stream.
Runoff is already affecting low-lying roads and communities.
Emergency officials warned of severe consequences across much of northern Oahu, including areas along and north of a line from Waianae Valley to Mililani Mauka to Waiahole.
Impacts include:
>> Major flooding in streams, rivers and neighborhoods
>> Numerous road closures across the North Shore and central Oahu
>> Possible landslides in steep terrain
>> Significant property damage in low-lying areas
The alert is based on stream gauge data, indicating ongoing flooding rather than just radar estimates.
What residents should do now
Authorities are urging immediate action:
>> Move to higher ground now
>> Do not attempt to drive unless evacuating
>> Avoid streams, drainage channels and culverts
>> Be alert for rock and mudslides
Officials cautioned the warning could be extended beyond 11 a.m. if flooding persists.
EARLIER COVERAGE
A flash flood emergency was declared today for parts of Oahu as life-threatening flooding triggered evacuations on the North Shore.
The National Weather Service said the flash flood emergency — its most severe flood alert — covers northern Oahu, including Haleiwa and Waialua, where floodwaters have cut off road access and inundated low-lying areas, through 8 a.m.
The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management issued an evacuation order for Haleiwa and Waialua, warning residents to leave immediately or move to higher ground or the highest floor of their homes.
Emergency officials described extremely dangerous flooding conditions in both communities, with high water levels at Wahiawa Dam adding to downstream flood risks.
Assembly areas opened at 5 a.m. across Oahu for displaced residents and visitors, providing outdoor gathering spaces for those unable to return home. Officials said the sites are not staffed but may have restroom access if available, and pets are allowed if leashed or in carriers.
Evacuation Bus Information: TheBus is mobilizing evacuation bus resources to Waialua/Haleiwa as of 6 a.m. and can direct them to any safe staging point in Haleiwa. Deployed buses will be marked with “EVACUATION” on signage and may be flagged down at any safe location (not necessarily at bus stops) to board and evacuate. No fares required.
Service for The Bus is disrupted in Waialua and Haleiwa on the following routes: No service on Route 521. Routes 52 and 60 are operating only to Weed Circle in Haleiwa. Routes 60 and 88A service impacted: No service between Waimea Valley and Kahaluu (Kamehameha/Kahekili at Hygienic Store).
Those who need to evacuate should bring a Go Bag with essential supplies, including medications.
Authorities urged the public not to walk or drive through flooded roadways and to stay out of evacuation areas until officials say it is safe to return.
Emergency officials reported widespread flooding of roads and neighborhoods across the North Shore, with access in and out of Haleiwa cut off.
Forecasters warned that additional bands of heavy rain moving in from the southwest could cause water levels to rise again and worsen flooding.
Water levels remain elevated at Wahiawa Reservoir, also known as Lake Wilson, and Helemano Reservoir, raising concerns about continued flooding in downstream areas near Waialua.
On the windward side, heavy showers continue to move through areas including Waiahole, Waikane and Kahana, where streams are running high and flooding may affect roads and low-lying areas.
The warning comes as a Kona low storm brings multiple rounds of heavy rain across the state through the weekend, with a flood watch in effect for all islands through Sunday afternoon.
A flood advisory was also issued for Molokai, where moderate to heavy rain is causing minor flooding in low-lying areas and along roadways.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve from west to east starting Monday as the storm system moves away from the islands and more typical tradewind weather returns. 1:30 p.m.
