(BIVN) – Some areas of Kaʻu are on an Essential Use Only Notice from the Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply, due to impacts from flooding associated with Hurricane Nolo.
Customers in the Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Discovery Harbor, and South Point service area are being asked to limit water use to essential needs only until further notice. The department says “storm related conditions, including power outages and possible damage to water system infrastructure are affecting DWS’ ability to provide water to the affected area.”
Meanwhile, Highway 11 in Kaʻū is now open to all traffic.
Heavy rains from the passing hurricane caused flooding that closed the highway in multiple locations between Pāhala and Waiʻōhinu overnight. “Through this morning State Highway and County Department of Public Works crews have been working to clear the highway of debris and Highway 11 is now open to all traffic from Hilo to South Kona,” the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reported Sunday.
Highway 250 (Kohala Mountain Road) in the North Kohala district remains closed due to high winds and hazardous conditions.
A High Wind Warning is in effect for portions of Hawaiʻi island until 6 p.m. this evening.
Due to the High Winds, Hawaiian Electric says its Public Safety Power Shutoff program is in a watch condition, meaning that if weather conditions intensify in the next 24 hours, Hawaiian Electric may proactively shut off power in communities with high risk of wildfire.
On Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said “easterly winds will remain strong and gusty over and downwind of terrain, with very strong wind gusts in excess of 60 mph expected over portions of west Maui and leeward Kohala.”
“With drier and continued windy weather due today, wind and relative humidity will be at or near critical fire weather levels in many leeward locations,” the forecasters said, “and the only factor against issuing a Red Flag Warning is the limited widespread readiness of fuels.”
