Hawaii braces for powerful kona storm bringing heavy rain and strong winds

State’s governor declared emergency as islands face extreme weather and Big Island volcano Kilauea erupts Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Hawaii is preparing for a powerful storm this week that is expected to cause intense winds, thunderstorms and possibly significant flooding across multiple islands. Josh Green, the governor, said on Monday he had issued an emergency proclamation in response to the weather expected to hit his state in the coming days, in order to bring additional resources into affected areas. “It’s going to be kind of a rough and tumble week with the weather,” Green said in a video posted on social media. “Be very safe. Be particularly safe on the roads.” The National Weather Service (NWS) has advised that a “large and powerful kona storm” will deliver heavy rainfall, causing flooding on smaller islands and in urban areas, as well as potentially severe thunderstorms and gusty winds. It will first hit Kauai, Niihau and Oahu on Tuesday, before expanding to the other islands in the coming days. Later in the week, the islands could see more damaging conditions, the governor’s office said in a statement. The state has clos