Hawaii is under a flood watch after weeks of heavy rain produced the worst flooding the islands have seen in about 20 years. Torrential water poured across a Maui highway and widespread damage across the state could exceed $1 billion. CBS reporter Carter Evans filed the report from Los Angeles.
A powerful series of storms, which have relentlessly hammered the islands for days, left large areas of Oahu and Maui underwater. Entire neighborhoods were inundated after rainfall not seen in decades, and officials say the impact has been catastrophic.
The latest storms followed days of direct hits from a Kona low, a wintertime tropical-type cyclone. Some parts of Maui received nearly four feet of rain last week, and more torrential downpours have returned. On Oahu, residents fled homes as National Guard rescuers waded through waist-deep water to help; some people were able to drive out while others were rescued.
Locals described conditions as unprecedented, and with soils already saturated officials warned that a nearby dam was at risk of failing. Authorities ordered evacuations for communities downstream as they monitored the structure.
Gov. Josh Green credited residents for helping one another, saying that community support has played a key role in preventing more fatalities. So far, one person has been reported missing: a 71-year-old woman feared to have been swept into a swollen river on Maui. Forecasts suggest the heaviest rain should begin to taper off tomorrow.
Meanwhile, crews in Washington State began the difficult job of clearing several tons of rock, mud, and debris from Interstate 5 after heavy rain triggered a landslide. Officials said some of the displaced rocks were as large as buses.
Meteorologist Andrew Kozak tied much of the Pacific weather pattern back to the same atmospheric river known as the Pineapple Express, which has also affected the Pacific Northwest. He noted historic flooding and very high rainfall totals in some areas over the past day, but offered cautious relief that sunnier conditions may return over the coming week. Still, additional moisture will continue to influence the Northwest, with more rain expected from late Monday into Tuesday for regions north of Seattle, Bellingham and toward Portland, and the risk of further landslides remains.
Kozak also warned of very hot conditions in the Southwest, where extreme heat warnings are in place. Parts of the desert Southwest are forecast to see highs in the 90s and triple digits, running 20 to 30 degrees above average this week.
State and local officials continue emergency response and recovery efforts as assessments of damage and needs proceed across the islands.