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Hurricane Lane weakens to tropical storm, but threat of flash flooding leaves Hawaii on edge

The monster storm gets downgraded but could still do major damage.

Rebecca Ruiz

on August 25, 2018

Hurricane Lane weakens to tropical storm, but threat of flash flooding leaves Hawaii on edge

More than a foot of rain fell on Hawaii before Hurricane Lane — now a tropical storm — arrived Friday. The threat of flash flooding still looms. Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Hurricane Lane may have looked like a monster storm earlier this week, but it petered out by Friday thanks to strong wind shear. Now a tropical storm, Lane still poses a threat to Hawaii in the form of flash flooding.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu extended its flash flood warning Saturday morning. It may be extended again, beyond Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, if heavy rain persists. The warning was issued for the northeast and southeast sides of the Big Island from Hawi to Hilo to South Point. The tropical storm warning remained in effect.

The National Weather Service said runoff levels remain high and an expected band of heavy rainfall moving onshore could overwhelm ground that is saturated from the rain that preceded Lane's arrival. The storm already resulted in "life-threatening flooding and landslides," according to the National Weather Service.

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Some weather experts posted images on Twitter of Hurricane Lane breaking apart once it encountered wind shear.

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While many felt the state dodged the worst of the storm, the torrential rain still caused significant flooding and damage.

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This car became submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on Aug. 23, in Hilo, Hawaii. Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

This stream near Hilo, Hawaii, overflowed when inundated with water, on Aug. 23, 2018. Credit: BRUCE OMORI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The flooded stream took over a road near Hilo, Hawaii, on Aug. 23, 2018. Credit: BRUCE OMORI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Michelle Montgomery (left) and Eric Leifer look at the floodwater in Hilo, Hawaii, on Aug. 24, 2018. Credit: BRUCE OMORI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Another view of Hurricane Lane floodwaters on Aug. 23, 2018 in Hilo, Hawaii. Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

This poor guy is trying to get stuff from his flooded car in Hilo, Hawaii, on Aug. 23, 2018. Credit: BRUCE OMORI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

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Here's hoping the storm does no more damage as it leaves the Hawaiian islands.

Rebecca Ruiz

Senior Reporter

Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, digital culture, and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness. Rebecca's experience prior to Mashable includes working as a staff writer, reporter, and editor at NBC News Digital and as a staff writer at Forbes. Rebecca has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a masters degree from U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.