Severe thunderstorms on Maui close schools, trigger major power outages
KAHULUI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A band of severe thunderstorms and gusty winds up to 70 mph downed several trees, triggered multiple power outages and closed several schools on Maui Friday morning.
Power outage
Hawaiian Electric reported multiple power outages Friday morning impacting more than 21,300 customers in parts of Upcountry, Central Maui, West Maui, and South Maui due to storm weather conditions.
Power was restored to approximately 19,000 customers in parts of South Maui, Upcountry, West Maui and Central Maui by 4 p.m.
Hawaiian Electric crews are working to restore power to approximately 2,000 customers in pockets of Kihei and the Nahiku area.
Crews are working to safely make repairs to downed or broken poles, remove vegetation debris from lines, and complete line inspections so power can be restored as quickly as possible.
Affected customers are still being asked to prepare for potential extended outages into Friday night.
School closures
The state Department of Education said the following public schools in east, south and west Maui were closed Friday due to power outages and unsafe road conditions caused by the severe weather:
East Maui
- Hana High & Elementary
South Maui
- Kamali’i Elementary
- Kihei Elementary
- Lokelani Intermediate
- Kulanihako’i High
West Maui
- King Kamehameha III Elementary
- Princess Nahi’ena’ena Elementary
- Lahaina Intermediate
- Lahainaluna High
Families are being notified directly, officials said. All other HIDOE schools remain open at this time.
Downed trees
The state Department of Transportation reported downed trees in the following areas:
- Hana Highway near mile markers 26-27 in Nahiku
- Kula Highway at Kula Elementary
- In the vicinity of Rice Park
Planes collide at airport
The strong winds also caused a parked plane to collide with another parked plane at Kahului Airport Friday morning. Photos sent to the newsroom showed the nose of one plane had pierced the bottom of a parked plane perpendicular to it.
A DOT spokesperson told HNN a privately-owned plane was pushed into the other plane and airport operations are not impacted.
Meanwhile, Hawaiian Airlines reported seven neighbor island flight cancellations in and out of Maui Friday morning due to weather.
All guests were accommodated on other departures, a spokesman said.
Wind gusts continue
Officials are advising the public to stay indoors and away from windows amid the severe weather.
The severe thunderstorm warning and flash flood warning have expired for Maui but forecasters say gusty winds remain.
During the brunt of the thunderstorms, radars showed rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
READ MORE:
NWS said the severe thunderstorms even produced “dangerous winds and treacherous winter weather” on Mount Haleakala, triggering a winter weather advisory until noon Friday.
READ MORE: Severe thunderstorm expires for Maui but gusty winds remain
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