UPDATE: Police report both lanes of Highway 11 in the Kawa area of Ka’u between the 58 and 62 mile markers are now OPEN to all traffic.

UPDATE: Hawaii County Civil Defense issued a new message after 6 a.m. Saturday morning, saying “the Hawaii Police Department reports that due to the heavy rainfall and flash flooding, many roads have sustained damage. Be alert for flowing water on and across the road, debris, water ponding, potholes, and shoulder erosion. Many hazards still exist so please drive carefully. Road closures may still happen without notice.”

All major highway are open except portions of Highway 11, civil defense added.

(BIVN) – The Tropical Storm Warning for Hawaii Island has been discontinued, as Tropical Storm Lane is moving slowly west, south of the western main Hawaiian islands. A Flash Flood Warning remains in place for East Hawaii. Localized storm total amounts well in excess of 40 inches have already been observed along the windward side of the Big Island, forecasters said.

At 5:30 a.m. HST, “radar and rain gages indicated that rain intensity and coverage had diminished significantly over the Kau and Puna Districts, with only light showers observed,” the National Weather Service wrote this morning. “However, runoff and localized flooding are ongoing. Numerous road closures continue, including a full closure of Highway 11 in Kau, and partial closures of Saddle Road, and Highway 130 near Keeau.”

The following major road closures are in effect as of 5:30am:

• Highway 11 – mm 10, 14-16, 58-61 (closed or one lane)
• Highway 19 – mm 6, 14, 15.5, 19 (others likely without notice)
• Saddle Road (alternating one lane with pilot car at 10.5 mm)

The following secondary road closures are also in effect:

• Akolea Wooden Bridge
• Bayfront Highway
• Enos Road
• Kaalaiki Road in Kau, just above Naalehu
• Kaiulani Street (Reeds Island)
• Kamehameha Avenue, Ponahawai to Manono
• Laupahoehoe Point Road
• North Kulani Road
• Old Mamalahoa (Onomea Bay)
• Pohaku from 39th to 40th in Orchidland Estates
• Pauahi Street Bridge
• Piihonua Wooden Bridge
• Rainbow Drive
• Road 8 between Roads B&C
• South Kulani Road at Highway 11 and Puhala
• South Point Road from Kamaoa Junction to South Point
• Wainaku at Iliahi Street
• Wainuenue Ave above Akolea Road
• Wood Valley
• Kawili/Wiwoole

Due to the potential effects of Hurricane Lane, five emergency shelters have been opened on the north and west side of Hawaii Island, civil defense says, adding “these shelters are for your convenience, but there is NO mandatory evacuation at this time. The shelters are available if you need to relocate.”

The shelters, annotated with the number of evacuees staying there, are:

• Hookena Elementary – 86-4355 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook (0)
• Kealakehe High (pet friendly) – 74-5000 Puohulihuli St, Kailua-Kona (6)
• Waikoloa Elementary – 68-1730 Ho’oko St, Waikoloa Village (6)
• Kamehameha Park Hisaoka Gym (pet friendly) – 54-382 Kamehameha Park Rd, Kapaa (2)
• Konawaena High – 81-1043 Konawaena School Rd, Kealakekua (0)
• Waiakea High School – 155 W Kawili St, Hilo (11)
• Keaau High School – 16-725 Keaau-Pahoa Rd, Keaau (22)

“If you choose to relocate to a shelter, food is not provided (don’t forget pet food!). Please bring your blankets and pillows if possible,” civil defense says. “However, the shelter is open to everyone with or without these items.”

Meanwhile, “during the past few hours, satellite imagery shows a burst of convection has developed near the circulation center of Lane, which was nearly totally exposed Friday evening,” the Central Pacific Hurricane Center stated at 5 a.m. “Lightning has also been persistent near the core of this deep convection. More importantly, we have been able to see the apparent center of circulation in the radar reflectivity data, which helps our confidence in the latest location and motion. Lane continues to weaken, so taking a blend of the latest satellite intensity estimates, we have lowered the initial intensity to 50 knots.”