Video 1. On March 5, 2012, flooding rains of 3″ per hour caused this creek to overflow the Loop Road on Kauai and wash away a pickup truck that tried to cross. The occupants evacuated safely.

Here are some select rainfall amounts over the past week, from the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
1155 AM HST FRI MAR 9 2012

…TORRENTIAL RAINS SLAM HAWAII IN THE PAST WEEK…

A SLOW MOVING FRONT BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN TO MOST ISLANDS THE PAST WEEK…AS IT INTERACTED WITH SEVERAL DISTURBANCES ALOFT. THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS 7-DAY RAINFALL TOTALS…FROM 11 AM FRIDAY MARCH
2 THROUGH 11 AM FRIDAY MARCH 9.

KAUAI
HANALEI 45.97
WAINIHA POWER HOUSE 43.84
KAPAHI 32.66
MOUNT WAIALEALE RAINGAGE 31.32
LIHUE AIRPORT 13.59

OAHU
OAHU FOREST NWR 39.65
MOANALUA – USGS – USGS 36.42
PUNALUU STREAM – USGS 31.46
WILSON TUNNEL 25.05
LULUKU 22.25
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER 20.47
HONOLULU AIRPORT 4.54

MOLOKAI
MOLOKAI AIRPORT 2.74

MAUI
PUU KUKUI – USGS 16.70
KAHULUI AIRPORT 2.34

HAWAII
HILO AIRPORT 5.97

Video 2. Damage from the March 9, 2012 tornado on Oahu.

Hawaii’s tornado history
Tornadoes are rare in Hawaii. According to the Tornado History Project, only 39 tornadoes have hit the state since 1950, an average of one tornado every 1.5 years. The strongest tornadoes to hit the state occurred in 1982, when a series of three F-2 twisters struck Oahu in February and March. Those months are the most frequent months for tornadoes, with 44% of the total. No one has ever been killed in a Hawaiian tornado, but six people have been injured.

Jeff Masters

Rare Hawaii hailstorm to be remembered

Hawaii has had ping pong ball size hail and major flooding this week.

When the heavens weep, the earth lives. Notice the color of the center falls. Taken from below the Pali Lookout. Many drivers pulled into the overlook to admire these amazing waterfalls.