Drier weather in store for Hawaii after stormy start to week

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

April 09, 2018, 1:47:47 PM EDT

Following a wet and stormy start to the week, a drying trend is in store for much of Hawaii.

"A slow-moving storm responsible for locally drenching downpours this past weekend will gradually shift to the east over the next couple of days," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Eric Leister.

"However, there is still the potential for heavy-enough rainfall to cause isolated flash flooding, especially on Maui and the Big Island into Tuesday," Leister said.

The northeasterly flow will remain moist enough to allow spotty showers in some leeward locations on the island, including on Molokai and Oahu.

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Rainfall has been close to average over the islands this winter with no large areas of abnormally dry or drought conditions, according to the United States Drought Monitor.

"As the week progresses, a more routine northeast trade wind pattern is forecast to set up, which will bring cloudy and showery conditions to the northeastern-facing slopes of the islands," Leister said.

As the trade winds increase, surf will build on the northeastern-facing shoreline areas and seas will build in the channels with northeastern exposure in between the islands. Inexperienced bathers, boarders and boaters are urged to exercise caution.

It is possible that somewhat more widespread unsettled conditions will return to the leeward slopes later in the week, depending on the development of a storm system southwest of the islands.