A couple of days ago, I saw this sliver of a moon rising over Mauna Kea. I didn’t have my tripod, so wedged myself as still as possible against a van. The close up shows that technique isn’t perfect, but still kind of interesting.
A follow up to yesterday’s post, my commute yesterday was surprisingly good. Once I got to work though, things went downhill. Driving rain, rivers where they shouldn’t be, wading pools popping up everywhere. Oh, and thunder and lightning, a rare occurrence in these parts, in abundance.
The day was short and I left for home in another downpour, amid rumors of road closures and an overturned semi-truck on my route. Once I passed Kawaihae (where I did see the semi trailer conveniently off to one side of the road), the rain eased and getting home was a breeze. I even managed a trip to the gas station in blazing sunshine.
But later, the skies darkened, lightning flashed, and thunder cracked directly overhead. And rain lashed the house, driven sideways by gusts of wind. I think this was the hardest rain I’ve seen since I moved here. The photos don’t capture it, cowering as I was safely inside and taking photos through increasingly blurred windows.
According to the forecast, the system should pass overnight, and I will be very happy to wave it goodbye.
Yesterday, a strong storm system moved across Hawaii from the west. On the Big Island, for most of the day, the weather was quite mellow, but the darkening clouds over Maui did not bode well. In the late afternoon, the bad weather finally arrived. The skies darkened and rain lashed down. When I left work, I had headlights on and drove with care. Just north of Kawaihae, the downpour increased in strength and I turned my windshield wipers to full speed.
I’ve never seen so much rain falling here, an area that gets 10 to 15 inches a year. Every little gully on the hillside was flooded with rainwater. About halfway home, I saw brake lights ahead, a blue police light, and a line of cars not moving. I couldn’t see whether this was an accident or something else.
The line of traffic soon started moving again and this was the scene I came to. A river of water flooded over the bank, washing debris into the road, and cascading down the slope towards the ocean. A policeman directed one way traffic and soon I was urging my little car through the torrent, water spraying up on both sides. I was happy to make it to the other side.
Back home, the weather was less extreme, but the system is supposed to hang around through Monday so who knows how this morning’s commute will be. If I don’t post again, you’ll know it did not go well!
A view of Mauna Kea Resort and beach, with Kohala Mountain in the background, looking north from the coast path.
Recently, we had our first big high surf event of the winter. Here, big swells roll in on the northern tip of the island.
The morning I first saw Mauna Loa’s latest eruption (here), the sunrise was equally spectacular.
On my way to work yesterday, I pulled over to photograph this view of Mauna Loa, early on day three of the current eruption. The heat and emissions from volcanic eruptions can create their own weather. Here, smoke and gasses from the most active vent can be seen rising up into a cloud over the northeast slope of the volcano.
Posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge. See more responses here.
This is the last day for the November edition of Becky’s Squares with the theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
I’m finishing off with part of the coast path in South Kohala. Blue skies, blue water, palm trees, and a nice, easy path underfoot. Oh, and a gentle breeze and warm, but not too warm temperature. What’s not to like?
