The heavy downpour that flooded Kauaʻi in April of last year set a national record for the most rainfall in a 24-hour period.
With 49.7 inches at Waipa Garden, Kauaʻi set the new record on April 14 and 15, 2018.
The previous record of 43 inches was set close to Alvin, Texas on July 25 and 26, 1979.
The National Weather Service’s National Climate Extremes Committee issued a statement, verifying the new record. It goes without a saying that the heavy rains across the eastern and northern Kauaʻi resulted in multiple reports of flooding.
The devastating rain resulted in catastrophic flooding, causing school closures and damages to roads, homes and infrastructure that are counted in millions of dollars in losses.
One of the biggest damages and losses have been to the Kalalau Trail and the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, which hasn’t yet recovered to this day.
The message from the Division of State Parks for the Na Pali coast reads: Hāʻena State Park and the adjacent Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park (including the Kalalau Trail) are closed due to flood damage resulting from heavy rains in 2018. The parks along with the highway and bridges which enable access to the area are under repair. Closures will likely be for an extended period of time. Updates will be posted when available. Latest update: 1/29/19
As we are now in the “winter” season, let’s hope that last year’s April flooding will not repeat itself anytime soon.
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