UPDATE: 10:05 p.m.

All Hawaii public schools on Molokai will be closed Friday, Department of Education officials said.

“In alignment with Gov. Josh Green’s directive issued on April 9, all Oahu public schools and HI-DOE offices will also be closed on Friday, April 10, due to severe weather including heavy rain and strong winds,” DOE officials said in a news release.

On Kauai, Hanalei Elementary School will be closed due to flooding.

All other public schools and DOE offices on Kauai, Maui, Lanai and Hawaii island will maintain normal operations, they said late Thursday.

The Molokai schools that will be closed Friday are:

Don’t miss out on what’s happening!

>> Molokai High

>> Molokai Middle

>> Kaunakakai Elementary

>> Kilohana Elementary

>> and Maunaloa Elementary.

9:45 p.m.

The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Kauai until 1:45 a.m. Friday.

“At 9:30 p.m., radar and automated rain gauges indicated moderate to heavy rain moving over Kauai from the south, with more rain upstream,” the warning said. “Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour, and streams across Kauai remain elevated. Waimea River and Hanapepe River have been steadily increasing and Hanalei River remains closed. Additional heavy showers moving through could result in sharp rises in streams and new or worsening flooding.”

7 p.m.

Gov. Josh Green announced the closure of all state departments Friday and the release of employees not working on disaster response and preparedness as heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to hit the island.

On Oahu only, state offices including the Judiciary, the University of Hawaii campuses, public schools, public charter schools, as well as most offices and facilities of the City & County of Honolulu, will be closed on Friday.

State employees who are not required to report to work will be granted administrative leave, the governor’s office said in a news release.

The Legislative session is on a statutorily mandated timetable and the leadership of the Senate and House has decided to continue operations, officials said.

“The safety of our residents and families must come first,” Green said in the release. “With the ground saturated from back-to-back storms that began last month, we are taking this situation extremely seriously. Closing schools and state offices will allow families to focus on staying safe, together. It also will support emergency operations and sheltering, should the need arise. We urge everyone to heed all warnings, evacuate if directed and stay out of floodwaters as this storm continues.”

The storm was hitting Kauai hard today. The Garden Island is under a flash flood warning until 9:45 p.m.

“At 6:40 p.m., radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain falling over Kauai.,” the warning says. “Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour. Sharp rises have been observed at the Wailua

River gauge and water has been reported on the Hanalei Bridge. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”

Hanalei Elementary School will be closed Friday due to flooding from the Hanalei River. Kuhio Highway near the Hanalei Bridge was closed.

6:30 p.m.

Hawaii Department of Education officials said all Oahu public schools and DOE offices will be closed Friday, and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has ordered the closure of all City & County of Honolulu non-essential offices and services for the day in anticipation of heavy rain across the island.

All disaster response and support personnel are reporting to work; all other City and County of Honolulu employees will be granted administrative leave, city officials said.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are taking this step to protect the health and safety of our residents and visitors as this storm continues to develop,” Blangiardi said. “We are asking everyone to take this situation seriously. Stay home if you can, avoid unnecessary travel, and make preparations now in case conditions worsen overnight. Our first responders and emergency personnel are fully activated and ready, but we all have a role to play in keeping our communities safe.”

DOE officials said that on Kauai, Hanalei Elementary will also be closed due to flooding conditions impacting access to the campus, they said.

All other public schools and HIDOE offices on Kauai, Hawaii island and in Maui County will maintain normal operations at this time.

“The decision was made out of an abundance of caution due to concerns related to flooding, road conditions and potential power outages across multiple communities,” DOE officials said in a news release. “This closure applies only to the current severe weather event and this date. The department will continue to closely monitor conditions and coordinate with state and county emergency management partners to inform operational decisions and help ensure the safety of students and staff.

For the City & County of Honolulu, the Friday closure will include several city facilities and suspension of public services, including (but not limited to):

>> All Driver Licensing Centers & Satellite City Halls (appointments will be rescheduled)

>> All Municipal Golf Courses

>> The Honolulu Zoo

>> The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, all Honolulu Botanical Gardens, all parks, and recreational facilities, including:

>> Athletic fields

>> Swimming pools

>> Outdoor courts

>> Gymnasiums (except those designated as shelters)

Emergency shelters remain open across Oahu for anyone needing a safe place to stay. These shelters opened Wednesday:

>> Wahiawa District Park

>> Manoa Valley District Park

>> Waianae District Park

>> Kaneohe District Park

City officials also are opening two more shelters tonight at Kahuku Elementary, 56-170 Pualalea St., and Nanakuli High & Intermediate, 89-890 Nanakuli Ave.

All shelters are pet friendly. Anyone seeking shelter should bring essential items, including food, water, medications, and pet supplies whenever possible.

There are currently no evacuation orders in place, but residents are encouraged to make decisions early if conditions around them begin to deteriorate, officials said.

Shelters are open to both residents and visitors and are pet-friendly. Those seeking shelter should bring essential items, including food, water, medications, and pet supplies whenever possible.

City officials also said residents and visitors should prepare for significant disruptions to islandwide transportation networks, including potential road closures, traffic signal outages, and transit delays. Skyline will operate as scheduled. The Bus and Handi-Van services could be suspended due to worsening weather conditions and unsafe wind speeds for high-profile vehicles like City buses. Visit www.thebus.org for more information on services suspended due to weather conditions.

4:55 p.m.

A flash flood warning has been issued for Kauai until 7:45 p.m.

“At 4:44 p.m., radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain falling over the north shore of Kauai,” the National Weather Service warnings says. “Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour. Sharp rises have been observed at the Hanalei River gauge. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”

Locations that will experience flash flooding include Kekaha, Princeville, Kilauea, Alakai Swamp Trails, Kokee State Park, Na Pali State Park, Wainiha, Haena, North Fork Wailua Trails, Waimea, Hanalei, Polihale, Hanapepe, Mana, Barking Sands, Waimea Canyon State Park, Pakala Village, Kaumakani, Eleele and Kalihiwai.

The entire state remains under a flood watch through Friday afternoon.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

A strengthening storm system is bringing high winds, flooding concerns and hazardous ocean conditions across the state today, prompting multiple warnings and advisories from the National Weather Service.

A high wind warning is now in effect through 6 a.m. Friday for Kauai and Oahu, where south winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are expected. Forecasters warn the winds could topple trees, damage roofs and power lines and make travel dangerous, especially for high-profile vehicles.

The system is part of a broader, high-impact weather pattern expected to persist through Friday, driven by low pressure developing northwest of the islands. Meteorologists say the system is pulling deep tropical moisture into the state, increasing the likelihood of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

A flood watch remains in effect for all Hawaiian islands through Friday afternoon, with the potential for flash flooding, road closures and landslides in steep terrain. The heaviest rainfall is expected to begin over Kauai and Oahu before spreading eastward statewide tonight into Friday.

A flood advisory is also in effect for Kauai through 10:45 a.m., where moderate to heavy rain has been falling at rates up to 1 inch per hour. Rising streams and minor flooding in low-lying areas have already been observed, including along the Wainiha River on the north shore.

Marine conditions are rapidly deteriorating as well. A gale warning is in effect through 6 a.m. Friday for waters around Kauai and Oahu, with winds of 25 to 35 knots and seas building to 14 feet. Forecasters warn the conditions could capsize or damage vessels, urging inexperienced mariners to seek safe harbor.

Additional areas, including Maui County and Hawaii island waters, remain under a small craft advisory, with a gale watch taking effect this evening through Friday afternoon as winds strengthen and seas build.

Hazardous surf on shore is also a concern. A high surf advisory remains in effect through 6 a.m. Friday for the south-facing shores of Oahu and Kauai County, where wave heights of 8 to 12 feet are expected. Strong currents and breaking waves will make swimming dangerous, officials said.

On Hawaii island, winter weather continues at the summits above 12,500 feet, where a winter weather advisory remains in effect through 6 a.m. Friday. Up to 6 inches of snow and a quarter inch of ice are possible, along with wind gusts up to 60 mph. A wind advisory is also in place for the summits beginning at noon today.

Cloudy and windy conditions are expected statewide today through Friday, with periods of showers and isolated thunderstorms. Forecasters say locally heavy rainfall will be possible as deep tropical moisture continues to move into the islands. Daytime highs will range from the upper 70s to mid-80s, with strong southerly winds of 20 to 30 mph and higher gusts.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate tonight, particularly over Kauai and Oahu, where showers and thunderstorms could become more widespread and intense. Locally heavy downpours may lead to rapid rises in streams and localized flooding, while gusty winds continue. Overnight lows will fall into the upper 60s to low 70s.

By Friday, the storm system is expected to bring continued windy conditions and widespread showers across the state. Periods of heavy rain could trigger flash flooding in already saturated areas, with thunderstorms possible. Winds are expected to remain strong before conditions begin to gradually improve late Friday into Saturday.

Forecasters say the unsettled weather pattern could bring isolated strong to severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of waterspouts over coastal waters.

Looking ahead, conditions may briefly improve late Friday into Saturday before another round of unsettled weather develops late in the weekend and into early next week.

Residents are urged to stay alert, avoid flood-prone areas and secure loose outdoor items as conditions continue to worsen.