where are the floods in hawaii
Most of the current serious flooding in Hawaii is on Oahu , especially the North Shore and areas north of Honolulu, with additional flooding and warnings affecting parts of Maui County and other islands under a broader flood watch.
Quick Scoop: Where Are the Floods in Hawaii?
- The worst flooding right now is reported on Oahuâs North Shore , including communities near Waialua and areas north of Honolulu, where homes and cars have been swept up and thousands have been evacuated.
- Officials have issued evacuation orders for around 5,500 people in hardâhit zones north of Honolulu due to rapidly rising waters and concern over an older dam in the region.
- A statewide flood watch is in effect, with particular concern for Oahu and parts of Maui County , and advisories also extending to Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island as heavy rain bands shift between islands.
- Recent storms have dumped 40â50 inches of rain in some locations over about ten days, saturating the ground and making new downpours much more dangerous.
- Drone footage and news reports show widespread inundation across Oahuâs North Shore , with roads under water and large areas of land submerged.
Mini Sections
1. Main Hotspot: Oahu
- North Shore (Waialua and nearby communities): Described as one of the hardest-hit areas, with muddy waters lifting houses, sweeping vehicles, and forcing rapid evacuations.
- North of Honolulu: Evacuation zones include lowâlying neighborhoods where rising water and concerns about an aging dam have triggered urgent âleave nowâ messages from officials.
- State infrastructure: Roads, some public facilities, and parts of local communities are reporting serious damage from the flooding and ongoing heavy rains.
People in some North Shore neighborhoods described water rushing into homes so quickly that they had to leave with almost no time to collect belongings.
2. Other Islands Under Watch
- Maui County: Forecasts and warnings highlight a risk of flash flooding in parts of Maui, with some areas expected to receive several more inches of rain as the storm system shifts.
- Molokai and Big Island: Under flood watches or advisories, with earlier reports of flooded roads and flashâflood warnings in some districts.
- Even where rainfall eases temporarily, saturated ground keeps the risk of sudden, fastâmoving floods relatively high.
3. What âWorst in 20 Yearsâ Means
- Officials and major outlets describe this as Hawaiiâs worst flooding in more than two decades , driven by a combination of a recent winter storm and a new, powerful system dropping more rain on already soaked terrain.
- Some areas have recorded dozens of inches of rainfall , overwhelming local drainage and stream systems and putting additional stress on older dams and infrastructure.
4. If Youâre Checking for Safety
If you or someone you know is in Hawaii:
- Check the latest alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) Honolulu and the HawaiĘťi Emergency Management Agency for precise neighborhoodâlevel warnings, road closures, and shelter locations.
- Follow any evacuation orders immediately, especially in lowâlying or North Shore Oahu areas, or places mentioned in local alerts.
- Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters; local agencies in Hawaii repeatedly stress that flash floods there can rise and move faster than people expect.
TL;DR: The floods are mainly impacting Oahuâs North Shore and areas north of Honolulu , with wider flood watches over Oahu, Maui County, Molokai, and the Big Island , and this event is being described as Hawaiiâs worst flooding in about 20 years.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.