Hawaii on the map. Stock images from INQUIRER.net
HONOLULU – Tropical Storm Calvin brought strong surf, heavy rain and gusts to parts of the Big Island of Hawaii on Wednesday, July 19, causing minor damage.
By late morning, the storm had passed to the west, and the National Weather Service canceled its tropical storm warning. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to the Kilaluea volcano, reopened at 11 a.m. as staff cleared roads and trails.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green expressed relief that there were no injuries or significant damage, but noted that the state’s hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, was just getting started.
“Stay tuned, because we have several months left in hurricane season,” Green said at a news conference. “We see this as an opportunity to have prepared ourselves.”
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A rain gauge on Honolii Stream, north of Hilo, recorded 7.24 inches (18.39 centimeters). Winds were highest on the summits of Haleakala volcano on Maui at 72 miles (116 mph) and Mauna Kea on the Big Island at 70 mph (113 kph).
Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth said there were reports of fallen tree limbs. The floods forced the closure of two roads in the Pahala area that are prone to flooding, he said.
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Talmadge Magno, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said the flooding temporarily isolated the Wood Valley community.
“When we have this kind of rain, those people know what to expect,” he said.
The National Weather Service reported waves of 14 to 18 feet (4.3 to 5.5 meters).
READ: Kilauea volcano erupts in Hawaii, lava confined to crater
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