The Big Island remains under several flood advisories as rain continues to lash the island.
The entire island is under a flash flood watch until at least this afternoon, with heavy rain still expected to continue throughout the week. Residents are advised to be alert in the event a flash flood warning is issued, and to not attempt to cross rising or flowing waters.
According to data from the National Weather Service, Hilo received 6 inches of rainfall between 3 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. Tuesday, and more than 12 inches between Sunday and Tuesday afternoon.
Other areas, such as Mountain View and Glenwood, have received more than 11 inches in the past three days, and Piihonua received more than 8 inches on Tuesday alone.
Rain gauges in Pahoa apparently failed, however, so no data for Tuesday was available for that area.
The heavy rains also caused an estimated 400,000-gallon spill at the Papaikou Wastewater Treatment Plant on Tuesday morning.
According to a notice from the county Wastewater Division, the rain flooded a diversion box at the plant sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, leading to partially treated wastewater spilling into a drainage channel, which carried the spill to the ocean near Waipahi Point.
While an operator at the plant was able to halt the spill shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, people are advised to stay out of the coastal waters along Kekiwi Point to Waipahi Point and further north along the shore.
People are also advised to stay out of all waters around the island in general because of an ongoing high surf advisory.
Mauna Loa and Maunakea summits above 11,000 feet are also under a winter weather advisory until at least 6 p.m. today, with the NWS predicting snow accumulation of up to 3 inches and periods of freezing rain. Any travelers to the summits are advised to take extreme caution.
