Powerful Storm Drenches Hawaii, Causing Flooding and Landslides

Kona low system brings heavy rain, high winds, and even snow to the islands

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:51pm

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A potent storm system has been pummeling the Hawaiian Islands since Tuesday, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and numerous landslides. The storm has dumped over 2 feet of rain in some areas, forcing evacuations and school closures. Strong winds have also toppled trees and power lines. Forecasters say the Kona low system is one of the most damaging to hit Hawaii in recent memory.

Why it matters

Hawaii's tropical climate and geography make it vulnerable to severe weather events like this Kona low storm. The heavy rain and flooding can cause significant damage to infrastructure and disrupt daily life for residents. These types of storms are expected to become more frequent and intense due to climate change, underscoring the need for disaster preparedness and resilience efforts in the islands.

The details

The storm has brought flash flooding, landslides, power outages, and school closures across the Hawaiian Islands since Tuesday. Rainfall totals have exceeded 2 feet in some areas, with the wettest spots on Maui recording over 23 inches in the last 24 hours. The heavy rain has overwhelmed drainage systems, leading to pooling on roads and forcing evacuations in some communities. Strong winds have also toppled trees and power lines, leaving over 100,000 customers without electricity.

  • The storm system has been affecting Hawaii since Tuesday, March 12, 2026.
  • As of Saturday, March 14, 2026, the storm was still centered over Maui and the Big Island, with flash flood warnings in effect.
  • The storm is expected to begin moving northeastward on Sunday, March 15, 2026, though rain chances will continue into next week.

The players

Robert Bohlin

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

Patrick Blood

A meteorologist with the Weather Service office in Honolulu.

Josh Green

The Governor of Hawaii.

Hawaiian Electric

The electric utility company working to restore power to over 111,000 customers across Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui.

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What they’re saying

“There's nowhere for the water to go except runoff. We don't need any more rain because we already have flooding, trees on power lines, power outages.”

— Patrick Blood, Meteorologist

“These Kona storms come in different flavors but they are some of the most damaging storms. They can do the sort of damage that a hurricane can do. This is one of the higher end ones.”

— Robert Bohlin, Meteorologist

What’s next

The storm is expected to begin moving away from the islands on Sunday, March 15, 2026, though rain chances will continue into next week. Authorities will continue to monitor for flooding, landslides, and power outages in the coming days.

The takeaway

This powerful Kona low storm underscores the vulnerability of Hawaii's island communities to extreme weather events, which are likely to become more frequent and intense due to climate change. Disaster preparedness and resilience efforts will be crucial for protecting lives and infrastructure in the face of these growing threats.