Remnants of Hurricane Felicia affect Hawaii

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The remnants of former Hurricane Felicia continue to affect the Hawaiian islands today, prompting the issuance of a flash flood watch for Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kauai. According to the National Weather Service, a flash flood watch is issued "to indicate current or developing hydrologic conditions that are favorable for flash flooding in and close to the watch area, but the occurrence is neither certain or imminent".

Felicia, once a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, weakened to a tropical depression before dissipating Tuesday. Its remnants produced showers across most of the islands, though as of yet, no damage or flooding has been reported. The precipitation, reaching 6.34 inches at a gauge on Oahu, was described as "beneficial". Some of the rainfall was accompanied by thunderstorms and frequent lightning.

	...when I heard there's going to be 12- to 15-foot faces, I was excited.
—Oahu resident

The advisories are due to expire late tonight, as officials caution that further rainfall could potentially lead to flooding. On Kauai, some rivers have already begun to swell.

Surfers, however, have been enjoying unusually high waves generated by the storm. One resident of Oahu said, "I'm pretty excited. We usually don't get this much big surf at [Sandy Beach Park]. So when I heard there's going to be 12- to 15-foot faces, I was excited. I thought I'd grab my fins, come out, check it out this morning." Bathers other than experienced surfers were advised to avoid the water.

Despite the demise of Felicia, the tropics remain active; two tropical depressions are currently persisting in the Eastern Pacific, while several systems are being watched for development in the Atlantic.

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Related news

"Hurricane Felicia threatens Hawaii" — Wikinews, August 7, 2009

Sources

National Hurricane Center. "Tropical Cyclone Activity" — NOAA, August 12, 2009
"Flash flood watch extends from Maui to Kauai" — The Star-Bulletin, August 12, 2009
"Flash flood watch in effect for Maui County" — KHNL, August 12, 2009
"Flood watch posted as Felicia makes last pass through state" — The Honolulu Advertiser, August 12, 2009
"Felicia bringing much-needed rain to islands" — The Star-Bulletin, August 12, 2009
Leland Kim. "East Oahu most vulnerable to Felicia" — KHNL, August 11, 2009
"National Weather Service Glossary" — National Weather Service, June 25, 2009

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