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+--- Thread: 3/13 & 14: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands (/showthread.php?tid=23854)
3/13 & 14: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - ironyak - 03-13-2026
Looks like another round of the Kona storms:
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/03/13/hawaii-news/hawaii-shuts-down-as-powerful-storm-pummels-islands/
"Much of Hawaii is shut down today as the state braces for the worst of this week’s powerful Kona-low storm that is expected to bring more heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, and flooding, plus 45-mph sustained winds and damaging gusts of up to 60 mph.
The National Weather Service is forecasting that the islands can see up to 15 inches of rain in the next three days, but said that the downpours will likely come in waves, not as a constant onslaught.
“Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security,” National Weather Service meteorologist John Bravender said at a news conference Thursday afternoon in the governor’s office.
“An incredible amount of rain is coming with very high certainty,” Gov. Josh Green said. “We hope it’s not even more than we’ve been projecting. There could be some lulls to this storm — and that means even more rain, even more threats to public safety, so we’re just trying to be very, very safe.”
The entire state is under a flood watch through Saturday afternoon, and Oahu spent much of Thursday under a flash flood warning.
...
Green said “we will be closing the state for the most part” today, but the shutdown does not include essential workers, including emergency and disaster response workers, who must report to work.
All Hawaii Department of Education public schools and HIDOE offices are closed today, as are University of Hawaii campuses. State parks are also closed." (more at link if you can dip past the paywall: https://archive.is/VdQF4)
Hawai‘i County Joins State in Closures Due to Severe Weather
https://www.kwxx.com/2026/03/13/hawaii-county-joins-state-in-closures-due-to-severe-weather/
"All non-emergency County services and operations will be closed today and tomorrow as a strong Kona low storm moves across the State.
The closure includes County offices as well as all park facilities, including the Hilo Municipal Golf Course and Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, and all solid waste facilities.
All fixed route Hele-On buses and Paratransit services will be cancelled on Saturday. Fixed route cancellations and modifications for Friday can be viewed at https://twitter.com/heleonbus or by calling 808-961-8744 ext. 1. For additional Paratransit updates, call 808-640-1020.
Camping permits at County parks are cancelled from Friday through Monday morning."
RE: 3/13: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - Durian Fiend - 03-13-2026
The storm is a bit tardy in reaching da Big Island. Looks like school closures weren't needed. Oh well, the kids get to start spring break a day early!
RE: 3/13: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 03-13-2026
The forecast across Puna is quite variable, both in rain amounts and the intensity of the wind. I use this map for a more localized forecast. You can tap on the small map for your location.
NOAA Weather
RE: 3/13: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - ironyak - 03-13-2026
Durian Fiend - The storm is a bit tardy in reaching da Big Island.
Oh it's a coming - just performing more of a flanking maneuver currently. Clever girl... that Laʻamaʻomaʻo. Or boy I guess, if Lono is your go to signifier... storm is still going to storm.
https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap?lat=19.593&lon=-155.058
RE: 3/13: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - Durian Fiend - 03-14-2026
Check out current winds at Kailua Kona!
Wind Speed S 36 G 53 mph
RE: 3/13: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - TomK - 03-14-2026
(03-13-2026, 06:23 PM)ironyak Wrote: Durian Fiend - The storm is a bit tardy in reaching da Big Island.
Oh it's a coming - just performing more of a flanking maneuver currently. Clever girl... that Laʻamaʻomaʻo. Or boy I guess, if Lono is your go to signifier... storm is still going to storm.
https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap?lat=19.593&lon=-155.058
I've no idea what your link is supposed to show (see attachment - it's what your link sent me to). It shows light and variable winds across the Big Island. The wind barbs show light winds and point in different directions. That suggests very light winds.
In the meantime, winds are approaching 100 mph at the summit of Mauna Kea.
RE: 3/13: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - ironyak - 03-14-2026
TomK - I've no idea what your link is supposed to show (see attachment - it's what your link sent me to).
Neat, my attachment above looks different. Maybe the map has some options to change what's being displayed - go check it out and report back.
In the meantime, winds are approaching 100 mph at the summit of Mauna Kea.
That's wild - you sheltering in place?
Looks like a widespread dark and stormy night out there Punatics - hopefully everyone is staying safe & dry!
RE: 3/13 & 14: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - ironyak - 03-14-2026
Hard to get all the Puna outages onto a single image - 21364 customers affected.
The grid may need a bit of hardening before we bother to argue about what's the best energy source for all those stranded electrons (or maybe each house should be able to generate their own electrons as needed and can share when able)
RE: 3/13 & 14: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - HereOnThePrimalEdge - 03-14-2026
Storm at Kīlauea Crater, with sound:
https://www.youtube.com/live/tk0tfYDxrUA
Storm on Piimauna Road Volcano Golf Course. You can still see the tephra on the golf course.
https://alertwest.live/cam-console/16625
RE: 3/13 & 14: Hawaii shuts down as powerful storm pummels islands - MyManao - 03-14-2026
(03-14-2026, 07:17 PM)ironyak Wrote: (or maybe each house should be able to generate their own electrons as needed and can share when able)
So, what you think? On a day like today we all should have mini hydro systems in our downspouts? Or go old school and use stationary bikes and treadmills? Maybe get the hamsters involved?
And, btw, reflecting back on an earlier post.. I agree, solar on the individual, building by building, use is the ticket.. just got to get the toxins out of the supply chain.. minimize the landfill contribution. And yes, find creative ways not to have to dedicate massive tracks land to it. But geothermal is the powerhouse if we're talking grids with enough to encourage using more.. ie expanding the economy. And especially if we like to envision the airport being able to service an electrified international clientele. We'd have to have a major pipeline of electrons.. and geothermal could provide that, with local plants spread out over the islands, and each with a very small footprint too.
Keep in mind, for the most part all geothermal needs is supper heated water.. 400°c more or less. Not active volcanic at 1,000°c. And still geochem identified hotter resources on all the islands as far back as the early '80s. And a more recent effort expanded on that...
From.. https://hawaii.edu/epscor/assessing-hawaiis-geothermal-potential/
![[Image: Copy-of-geothermal_resource_map_-lautze2...C620&ssl=1]](https://i0.wp.com/research.hawaii.edu/noelo/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/Copy-of-geothermal_resource_map_-lautze2017-1024x620.jpg?resize=1024%2C620&ssl=1)