LIHU‘E — A powerful cold front is forecast to sweep across the Hawaiian Islands bringing with it heavy rain and wind that could lead to roof damage, fallen trees and power outages.
The National Weather Service office in Honolulu issued an updated special weather statement on Saturday morning characterizing the cold front as being driven by a mighty “low pressure system.”
The cold front is projected to generate “a very large and long-lived north swell that will affect the islands from Sunday night through Tuesday,” the statement said.
“Homeowners, beachgoers and boaters should prepare for high surf and significant wave run-up, with possible coastal impacts along exposed north and west facing shores.”
The forecast prompted the county Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency to issue an advisory.
“As we are in the holiday season, we are urging the public to stay informed and to take appropriate precautions,” said Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio in a statement. “This cold front could bring the potential for strong wind and thunderstorms.”
The cold front is forecast to produce heavy rain on Sunday evening as it rides a west-southwest wind between 17 to 22 miles per hour. Gusts could be as high as 31 mph.
Some of the storms passing through Kaua‘i could also produce heavy rain, at times, on Monday, fueled by a west wind in the range of 15 to 20 mph with gusts as high as 28 mph.
The weather outlook brightens as the week progresses with scattered showers in the forecast on Tuesday and isolated showers on Wednesday. The highs and lows from Sunday through Wednesday range from 81 degrees to 64 degrees.
For up-to-date information about Kaua‘i ocean conditions and safety, local officials recommend speaking to a county lifeguard at any lifeguard station, check out hawaiibeachsafety.com or call the Kaua‘i Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
