Major flooding issues on Hawaii as Hurricane Lane sweeps by

Hurricane Lane has stayed more than 150 miles off the shore of the big island, but heavy rain bands have managed to bring torrential rainfall with rain rates of 2-3 inches per hour, and as a result, major flash flooding.

An estimate of over 30 inches of rain fell on the big island through Friday morning. It had a major impact on normally serene streams and rivers, turning them into roaring rapids and carving new routes through neighborhoods and parks. Residents in Hilo, a north shore city on the big island, were forced to evacuate their homes because their road turned into a river and water levels are continuing to rise.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, Hilo received 16.85" of rain, both days breaking records for high daily rainfall, and that number will keep adding up through the weekend. Now, residents of Maui and Oahu are anticipating similar impacts through Sunday.

Lane weakened from a Category 4 to a Category 2 hurricane Friday with winds up to 105 miles per hour within the eyewall. The fact that it's weakening does not mean that the rain and flooding impacts will be any less severe. Lane will take a turn west before the eye makes it to Oahu, but over 20 inches are forecast for the island.