{"id":50586,"date":"2023-02-19T18:59:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-19T18:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/?p=50586"},"modified":"2023-02-21T04:20:01","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T04:20:01","slug":"kona-low-flooding-event-in-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/archives\/50586","title":{"rendered":"Kona Low flooding event in Hawai’i"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GOES-18 Air Mass RGB images, 15-19 February [click to play MP4 animation]<\/p><\/div>\n

GOES-18 (GOES-West)<\/em> Air Mass RGB<\/strong><\/a> images during the 15-19 February 2023 period (above)<\/strong><\/em> displayed the migration of a Kona Low from north of the main Hawaiian Island chain on 15 February toward Johnston Island on 19 February. The MIMIC Total Precipitable Water<\/strong><\/a> product (below)<\/strong><\/em> showed that the circulation of this Kona Low helped to draw a broad plume of moisture northwestward from the ITCZ\u00a0 and across Hawai’i — providing the fuel for a prolonged period of heavy rainfall. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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MIMIC Total Precipitable Water product, 16-19 February\u00a0 [click to play animated GIF | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n

Plots of rawinsonde data from Hilo (below)<\/strong><\/em> revealed the deep tropical moisture that was present over the eastern portion of the Big Island from 18-19 February.<\/p>\n

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Plots of rawinsonde data from Hilo [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>\n

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GOES-18 “Clean” Infrared Window (10.3 \u00b5m) images, from 1501-1801 UTC on 18 February [click to play animated GIF | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n

GOES-18 “Clean” Infrared Window (10.3 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) images (above)<\/strong><\/em> provided a closer look at the Big Island, where the heaviest rainfall occurred across the Kau, Puna and South Hilo districts (NWS Honolulu PNS<\/strong><\/a>). On 18 February, Hilo experienced 2 consecutive hours with rainfall in excess of 3 inches (below)<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Observations from Hilo, 15-17 UTC (5-7am local time) on 18 February [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n

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Hilo, Hawai'i, with over 3" rain in consecutive hours. The 2-hour total of 6.16" has a recurrence interval of > 50 years. Looking at the hourly records (since 1962), only one other instance of consecutive hours each having 3"+ rain (Nov 2, 2000). pic.twitter.com\/41fnxiUojA<\/a><\/p>— Brian Brettschneider (@Climatologist49) February 18, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>