Record heavy rain brought by consecutive low pressure

Two cyclones made landfall in succession in Hawaii in March 2026, causing the worst flooding damage in decades. Dubbed 'Kona Low', this subtropical weather system siphoned moisture from the tropics and formed slow-moving thunderstorms that produced devastating torrential downpours.

According to the National Weather Service, between March 11 and 15, rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 26 centimeters) were recorded across Hawaii, with some areas exceeding 30 inches (76 centimeters). Weather stations in Honolulu, Hilo, Lihue and Kahului all broke daily rainfall records.

Extensive damage to life and property

After the first and more destructive storm hit Oahu on March 14, residential and agricultural lands were flooded in the area between Mokuleia and Waialua. Satellite photos showed the waters around Kaiaka Bay turning red due to sediment. Hilo soil in the Hawaiian volcanic region is known to be red due to high iron and aluminum oxide accumulated during the weathering process.

Preliminary damage estimates show that hundreds of households were damaged on Oahu alone. According to reports, farmers across Hawaii, including Oahu, reported millions of dollars worth of crop damage. The storm brought wind gusts of 60 to 75 miles per hour (97 to 121 kilometers per hour), with winds reaching 100 miles per hour in some areas. In the aftermath of the storm, up to 115,000 households suffered power outages on the island of Oahu alone.

Future outlook and operation of response system

The heaviest rains had mostly subsided by March 24, but weather officials continue to monitor unsettled weather and the possibility of further flash flooding in the coming days.

NASA's Disaster Response Coordination System was activated to support the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's storm response. The NASA team will post maps and data on a publicly accessible mapping portal as new information becomes available.