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Wet season wipes out drought statewide

First time there’s no dry areas since end of 2015

The Maui News

A very rainy wet season eliminated drought in Hawaii, and rainfall in Maui County ranged from 120 to 150 percent of the average from October through April, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported.

Rainy weather in leeward areas was the result of a weak La Nina condition, the second consecutive year it has persisted. (La Nina, or little girl, corresponds to the cooling of ocean water in the equatorial Pacific that happens at irregular intervals.)

During the wet season, Kahului Airport recorded 21.84 inches of rain, the seventh wettest on record.

For the state overall, the wet season was the fifth wettest in the last 30 years, NOAA reported.

On Kauai last month, the Waipa area set a possible U.S. record for 24-hour rainfall with 49.69 inches. There was massive flooding on Kauai.

Kauai had most rain gauges reporting rainfall of 110 to 140 percent of average. The Wainiha area recorded 107.58 inches, the second wettest October-through-April period in 30 years and the seventh wettest since 1950. The record was set in 1969 with 145.98 inches, the federal agency said.

Windward Oahu rain gauges showed totals that were 120 to 150 percent of average. Leeward sites were 70 to 100 percent of average. The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport recorded 14.57 inches, the 11th wettest on record.

On the Big Island, most rain gauges were 110 to 140 percent of average. Hilo International Airport reported 101.88 inches, the eighth wettest wet season.

Weather forecasters predicted that there will be a neutral transition period between the La Nina, which ended, until ocean temperatures warm again for the next El Nino.

They forecast above-normal rain through the dry season. Wet conditions will mainly affect windward areas, forecasters said. And, leeward areas were expected to be normally dry.

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