UPDATE 9:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service is reporting that Tropical Storm Lane hasn’t moved or weakened for almost four hours and continues to lash the Big Island with severe rain and wind.
Lane has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, and its center is located about 150 miles west of Kailua-Kona.
A flash flood warning for the entire island has been extended to 11:45 p.m., and police report multiple road closures due to flooding, landslides and debris.
Crews are not able to open roadways at this time, and residents are advised to stay off all roads due to “very hazardous conditions.”
UPDATE 7:45 p.m.
Hawaii Civil Defense says it’s critical residents “stay off the roads” as all low-lying areas of Hilo are flooded. Major road closures are in effect throughout windward areas.
“All low-lying areas of Hilo town are flooded,” a county email said. “It is critical that motorists and persons stay out of the area.”
Closures include:
— Highway 19 between mile markers 3 and 32. Expect extremely hazardous driving conditions. Only one lane will be maintained and the road may be closed at times without any notice.
— Saddle Road at mile marker 10.5; alternating one lane open with pilot car.
— Highway 11 at mile marker 15.
— Highway 130 from Keaau High School to Hawaiian Paradise Park.
In East Hawaii, shelters are open at Waiakea and Keaau high schools.
UPDATE 5:20 p.m.
Hurricane Lane has been downgraded to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, with the center of the storm about 160 miles west of Kailua-Kona.
UPDATE 2:30 p.m.
Hurricane Lane has been downgraded to a category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.
The hurricane was moving north-northeast at 2 mph.
Hawaii Island remains under a tropical storm warning.
UPDATED 1 p.m.
Both lanes of Highway 19 near mile-marker 6 north of Hilo are now open, according to police. But there still is a lot of runoff and ponding in the area.
Highway 19 near Honomu experienced more than 14 landslides, causing four complete road closures. The road remains closed at mile-markers 15, 19, 21 and 28.
Bayfront Highway in Hilo remains closed due to flooding.
Kohala Mountain Road opened as of 11:45 a.m. today.
Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270) is closed due to a landslide at mile-marker 25.
Traffic on Saddle Road is still reduced to one lane between mile-markers 8 and 12.
UPDATED 11 a.m.
Motorists are advised to avoid Highway 19 north of Hilo due to multiple road closures at mile-marker 14, mile-marker 18, Maulua Gulch and Ka‘awali‘i Gulch, police said.
PREVIOUSLY
Multiple road closures are in effect for the windward side as more heavy rain and flooding is expected from Hurricane Lane.
According to Hawaii County Civil Defense, traffic on Saddle Road is reduced to one lane between mile markers 8 through 12, and one lane of Highway 19 is closed at mile marker 6.
In North Kohala, Highway 270 is closed at mile marker 13.
Numerous secondary roads are closed in Hilo, Puna and Hamakua. That includes Waianuenue Avenue near Piihonua.
Hawaii Island is under a tropical storm warning as Lane remains almost stationary about 145 miles west/southwest of Kailua-Kona.
As of 8 a.m., Lane was a category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds at 105 mph. It was moving north at 2 mph.
A flash flood warning is in effect for East Hawaii until 9:45 a.m., but may be extended. The National Weather Service said the ground is saturated from Kohala to Ka‘u.
High surf advisories and a flash flood watch also is in effect.
Reeds Island in Hilo was under a voluntary evacuation Thursday evening due to flooding. Five people were rescued from a home there. Waiakea High School was opened as a shelter.
Here are rain totals for the last 24 hours:
— Hakalau: 21.71 inches
— Waiakea Experiment Station: 10.01 inches.
— Mountain View: 12.38 inches
— Hilo airport: 5.26 inches
— Pahoa: 2.8 inches
