UPDATE (9:15 a.m.) – Hawaii County Civil Defense issued a flood advisory information update at 9 a.m. (audio message above).

Police report all roads are open at this time, but advise that driving conditions are poor because of occasionally heavy downpours. “Remember, if lightning does threaten your area, the safest place to be is indoors,” the civil defense message states. “Should power outages occur, be on the alert for non-operable traffic signals. Please treat flashing traffic lights as a four-way stop.”

(BIVN) – The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Flood Advisory for the island of Hawaii in Hawaii County until 9:45 a.m. HST, after radar indicated heavy rain over the north Kohala mountains.

At 6:42 a.m. HST, rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Minor flooding of low lying and poor drainage areas can be expected, forecasters say.

“Stay away from streams, drainage ditches and low lying areas prone to flooding,” the National Weather Service message warned. “Rainfall and runoff will also cause hazardous driving conditions due to ponding, reduced visibility and poor braking action. Do not cross fast flowing or rising water in your vehicle, or on foot. Turn around, don`t drown.”

An unstable airmass will persist over the state through tonight, with locally heavy rainfall and thunderstorms possible across portions of the island chain.