Rain from Lane tops 50 inches on the Big Island
HILO, HAWAII (HawaiiNewsNow) - Torrential downpours from the outer bands of Hurricane Lane dropped more than four feet of rain on some parts of the Big Island, according to updated figures from the National Weather Service.
A rain gauge at Mountain View recorded 51.53 inches of rain between noon on Wednesday, Aug. 22, through 4 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 26. The figure is preliminary, but forecasters said it's currently the third highest storm total rainfall from a tropical cyclone in the United States since 1950.
The highest storm total is 60.58 inches in Nederland, Texas, from Hurricane Harvey a year ago. The second highest total is 52.00 inches, which was measured at the Kanalohuluhulu Ranger Station during Hurricane Hiki in 1950. That total is also the highest tropical cyclone storm total recorded in Hawaii.
Lane also dumped 36.76 inches of rain at Hilo Airport during the four-day period between midnight Wednesday and 11:59 p.m. Saturday, making it the wettest four-day period ever in Hilo dating back to 1949. Hilo also measured 15.00 inches of rain on Friday alone, making it the fifth-wettest calendar day on record.
The heavy rains triggered widespread flooding along much of the east side of the Big Island, especially in Hilo and Puna. leaving much of the Hilo bayfront area submerged in several feet of brown water.
Maui also sustained damage from heavy rains. The West Wailuaiki gage on the windward side of east Maui recorded 24.71 inches of rain in four days.
More rain associated with moisture behind Lane was expected this weekend, and the rainfall totals could still rise.
Here are some of the notable rainfall totals recorded between noon Wednesday and 4 a.m. Sunday. All are preliminary totals, in inches:
BIG ISLAND
- Mountain View, 51.53
- Waiakea Uka, 49.10
- Piihonua, 47.48
- Saddle Quarry (USGS), 47.20
- Waiakea Experiment Station, 43.99
- Pahoa, 37.28
- Glenwood, 35.40
- Kulani NWR, 28.52
- Keaumo, 24.35
- Kawainui Stream, 16.03
- Puu Mali, 13.70
MAUI
- West Wailuaiki (USGS), 24.71
- Puu Kukui (USGS), 14.96
- Haiku, 10.34
- Hana Airport, 8.14
This story may be updated.
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