Hawaii's heaviest rainstorm in 20 years threatens dam as flash flood warnings continue

As Hawaii endures its worst flooding in more than 20 years, officials are urging people in hard-hit areas to “LEAVE NOW.”

HONOLULU — Evacuation orders were lifted for residents of Oahu who had been told to flee earlier Saturday as a flood-producing storm moves east, the Oahu Department of Emergency Management said.

However, the threat from the "Kona low" storm was still serious enough that flash floods were possible from Oahu to the Big Island through Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island were under a flash flood watch through that time, the Maui Emergency Management Agency said.

The Kona Low storm drenched soil already saturated by downpours from a similar low pressure system a week ago, prompting officials to urge residents of hard-hit areas to “LEAVE NOW" earlier Saturday.

Muddy floodwaters smothered vast stretches of Oahu’s North Shore, a community world-renowned for its big-wave surfing. Raging waters lifted homes and cars and prompted evacuation orders for 5,500 people north of Honolulu. Authorities cautioned that a 120-year-old dam could fail. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning early Saturday with light to moderate showers expected to turn heavy in some places.