Kona storm causes flooding and road collapse across Maui
A powerful Kona storm flooded Maui and other Hawaiian islands, destroying roads and leaving thousands without power.
After a weekend of abnormal weather across the country, March 17th is forecast to bring extreme cold in the south, a heat wave in the west, and continued strong winds and heavy rain from the east.
On the heels of a major storm that brought heavy rain, high winds and thunderstorms to the East Coast of the United States, the National Weather Service is predicting a period of “calm” weather for many people. Still, an early heatwave is giving Southern California a summer-like feel, with temperatures expected to reach triple digits in the desert Southwest by midweek.
The Bureau of Meteorology said, “If temperatures are this high early this year, the record high temperature could be broken by as much as 10 degrees.”
If the heat dome spreads, it could affect more than 70 million people and strain water resources, AccuWeather reported.
On the morning of March 17th, exactly the opposite is happening in the Deep South. More than 53 million Americans woke up to freeze warnings that covered a swath of states from eastern Texas to South Carolina.
Tornado touches down in Charlotte after warning across East
A severe weather outbreak on March 16 knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people, caused flight cancellations, school closures, and early government shutdowns. Tornado watches covered much of the East Coast.
A tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the morning of March 16, according to the National Weather Service in Greenville and Spartanburg. The EF-0 tornado, with estimated maximum wind speeds of 85 mph, touched down around 9:39 a.m. and remained on the ground for about a mile and a half, the agency said. No injuries or deaths were reported.
The National Weather Service announced on the morning of March 17 that a “deep depression” and cold front would pass through New England and exit into Canada later that day. In the meantime, strong winds, heavy rain, and falling temperatures continue.
Extreme temperatures across the U.S.: Possible record lows and highs
Low temperatures across the southern region on the morning of March 17 are expected to be in the 20s to 30s, with lower temperatures and wind chills in the 10s at higher elevations. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, record low temperatures are possible across the region overnight into the morning of March 18.
High temperatures in the 90s are expected across the desert southwest, with some major cities expected to reach triple digits this week, according to AccuWeather. On March 17, a heatwave warning was issued for much of Southern California, southern Nevada, and Arizona.
Phoenix could see high temperatures of about 106 degrees starting March 19 and into the weekend, which would be 20 to 30 degrees above the historical average for this time of year, the paper said. Las Vegas could reach temperatures of 100 degrees this week, weeks earlier than usual.
Los Angeles could attempt a March record high of 99 degrees this week. San Francisco could also reach the low 80s, breaking records set decades ago.
“Record high temperatures are likely or possible from California to the Rocky Mountains, including Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Denver,” AccuWeather reported.
Kona storm devastates Hawaii with deluge of rain and wind
The multi-day Kona storm caused heavy rain, flash flooding and damaging winds across much of the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend, with Maui and the southern Big Island being the hardest hit, the Honolulu Weather Bureau said.
Homes and businesses were flooded and roads were closed. In Kihei, Maui County, video showed a house partially destroyed by flooding. According to the local weather bureau, fallen trees and power lines caused power outages and roof damage.
Several feet of rain fell from March 11 to March 15, with Maui’s Kula area recording the highest rainfall total of nearly 4 feet on record. The highest precipitation totals occurred at the top of the islands.
These were the highest wind gusts ever recorded.
- Waawaa Hill Community, Hawaii Island: 195 mph
- Summit of Mauna Kea, Big Island: 180 mph
- Kula, Maui: 168 mph
- Waimea, Kauai: 146 mph
- Makapuu Beach, Oahu: 131 mph
