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Thursday, April 9, 2026, warning of large breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet with occasional higher
<br />sets to 12 feet, which will create strong breaking waves and strong currents; and
<br />WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, at approximately 3:15 A.M. HST, the NWS issued a
<br />Winter Weather Advisory for Hawaii Island summits above 12,500 feet in elevation, in effect
<br />from 6:00 A.M. HST Wednesday, April 8, 2026, through 6:00 A.M. HST Friday, April 10, 2026,
<br />warning of snow and freezing rain, with total snow accumulations of up to 6 inches and ice
<br />accumulation of up to a quarter inch possible, and wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour, which will
<br />make travel to the summits very difficult to impossible and may significantly reduce visibility;
<br />and
<br />WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, at approximately 3:18 A.M. HST, the NWS issued a Flood
<br />Watch for all islands in the State of Hawaii, in effect through Friday afternoon, April 10, 2026,
<br />at 6:00 P.M. HST; and
<br />WHEREAS, on April 8, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. HST, the NWS provided supplemental
<br />information to the County, advising that the strong storm system exhibiting a Kona low -like
<br />pattern will bring prolonged heavy rainfall, strong gusty southerly (Kona) winds, and
<br />thunderstorm impacts to Hawaii Island, with peak impacts expected Thursday through Friday
<br />and potentially extending into the weekend; and
<br />WHEREAS, the NWS supplemental information forecasts additional cumulative rainfall
<br />Wednesday through Friday of 10 to 15 inches for Volcano and Pahala, 8 to 10 inches for
<br />Nd'dlehu, 6 to 8 inches for Pahoa and Ocean View, 4 to 6 inches for Hilo, 3 to 4 inches for Hawi,
<br />Kailua-Kona, and Honoka`a, and 2 to 3 inches for Waimea, with localized bands and
<br />thunderstorms capable of producing very heavy rainfall rates of 2 to 3 or more inches per hour;
<br />the NWS further forecasts peak lower -elevation wind gusts of approximately 30 to 50 miles per
<br />hour countywide, with the strongest gusts to the north and east of higher terrain; and
<br />WHEREAS, in March 2026, the County experienced two successive Kona low weather
<br />events that produced significant rainfall, flooding, and damage throughout Hawaii Island; I
<br />issued the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the March 2026 Kona Low Weather Event on
<br />March 12, 2026, and the Emergency Proclamation Relating to the Second Kona Low Weather
<br />Event in March 2026 on March 20, 2026, both of which remain in effect; and
<br />WHEREAS, Governor Josh Green, M.D., also issued emergency proclamations relating
<br />to the recent Kona low weather events affecting the entire State, the most recent being on March
<br />25, 2026; and
<br />WHEREAS, as a result of those events and the heavy rainfall occurring on April 7, 2026,
<br />the ground throughout Hawaii Island remains saturated, and the County's soil, waterways,
<br />drainage systems, and flood -prone areas have a substantially diminished capacity to absorb or
<br />disperse additional rainfall, which significantly increases the risk of flash flooding, landslides,
<br />debris flows, and overflowing streams from any subsequent rainfall event; and y
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