Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke signs emergency proclamation

A low pressure system that has brought heavy rain and winds to the Islands has prompted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke — who is serving as acting governor while Gov. Josh Green is in Washington, D.C., this week — to sign an emergency proclamation.

An announcement from the Governorʻs Office Thursday said the proclamation  — which will remain in effect through Monday, Feb. 3, unless it’s terminated or superseded — allows for the “rapid deployment of resources to address potential impacts, including high winds, heavy rainfall and other hazardous conditions associated with the system,” and also suspends some laws that might delay emergency response efforts.

The full proclamation can be read here.

According to a forecast from the National Weather Service in Honolulu, “A vigorous low pressure system passing north of the state will drag a cold front from northwest to southeast down the island chain tonight and Friday.”

The storm system brings the possibility of strong and damaging south to southwest winds, severe thunderstorms and flooding along and ahead of the front through Friday, the NWS said.

Areas that have less pressure than their surroundings are called low-pressure systems, which “’suck’ air into them because nature wants everything to have equal pressure,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s SciJinks website explains. “By doing this, they generally create winds and undesirable weather.” Meanwhile, high-pressure systems that push air away and into areas with lower pressure are “often times associated with clear blue skies.”

A number of weather-related watches and warnings are in effect across the state now and through the coming days. More information can be found online here.

The weather also has led to a number of closures across the Islands.

Kaua‘i County, for example, said in a Thursday announcement that Wailua Golf Course and the Kōloa HI5 Redemption Center is closed for the remainder of the day.

On Oʻahu, the City and County of Honoluluʻs Department of Enterprise Services said in an announcement Thursday that the Honolulu Zoo in Waikīkī was closed this morning because of heavy rains that caused ponding and flooded walkways, and is expected to remain closed the remainder of the day. And, as of 11:20 a.m., play was suspended at the cityʻs six municipal golf courses because of “heavy rains and strong winds.”

Additionally, the cityʻs Department of Parks and Recreation said in a separate announcement that a number of parks were closed to the public, including Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, Patsy T. Mink Central O‘ahu Regional Park, Hans L’Orange Neighborhood Park and Koko Crater Botanical Garden. Permitted camping at all of the departmentʻs 17 campgrounds also will be suspended Friday, Jan. 31, the city said.    

Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.