Friday was likely one for the record books. From hail the size of lemons, a waterspout that turned into a tornado, and then the rain… lots of it, overflowing streams and flooding homes.
"I grew up in Florida and it’s a daily occurrence but to hear that here and be woken up by it was wow what’s going on it’s incredible," says National Weather Service meteorologist Vic DeJesus.
Even forecasters were amazed. Plus national news outlets and the Weather Channel were calling wanting to know what’s up.
"I was pretty amazed, when you’re forecasting things you’re thinking to yourself can this really happen here in Hawaii, the reality is it can," says National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Foster.
This is what caused it. The area in red and pink was all the heavy rain, that blue spot in the center – hail. Then mother nature added in the perfect storm.
"If you’re going to have a tornado it’s going to be right there," says Foster.
That’s where the tornado hit, coming in off Lanikai and ripping through Enchanted lake.
"That was a full on {spiral}, even the radar signature was something you’d see if i were to look at that I’d think it’s going to hit Oklahoma City, but oh wait it’s actually Kaneohe," says DeJesus.
Probably the most memorable will be the hail. Forecasters will compile reports and data next week, but already estimate it was likely the largest hail ever measured in Hawaii.
"Here I never thought i’d see hail the size of a tennis ball, I didn’t actually see it but the photos and everything was pretty astounding," says DeJesus.
"I believe the one earlier this week in Waimanalo was close to a record and this obviously will supercede that," says Foster.
If you’re saving hail in your freezer – weather forecasters want to see it. You can contact them via e-mail: W-HFO.Webmaster@noaa.gov
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
