Evacuation notices Hawaii have lifted after catastrophic flooding prompted evacuation alerts in parts of the state, but flood watches remain in place for most of March 22.
Much of the state remains under a flood watch into the evening of March 22, including Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island, according to the National Weather Service, following what authorities described as the worst flooding the state has seen in 20 years.
Excessive rain caused torrents of water to wash out homes, damage roads and threaten to bust through a dam, sparking an emergency evacuation of thousands in Oahu on March 20. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency later clarified that the 120-year-old dam had not failed but "is at imminent risk of failure."
Haleʻiwa and Waialua also saw evacuations on March 21 as an alert warned that all roads out are at risk of "imminent failure," though those alerts have since been lifted. Most recently, flash flood warnings were issued through the morning of March 22 in parts of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and are set to expire at 8:30 a.m. local time, according to the Honolulu National Weather Service office.
Additionally, the National Weather Service in Honolulu warned of potential excessive rainfall and flash flooding later in the day as the forecast showed possible heavy rain and showers continuing through March 22 into the work week, including in Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island.
