Heavy Rains A Mixed Blessing For Hawaii's Big Island

HONOLULU -- A tropical depression that has raised a flash flood watch on Hawaii's Big Island has moved on by, leaving a few inches of rain and no major problems.<br/><br/>The National Weather Service

Monday, July 23rd 2007, 4:42 am

By: News On 6

HONOLULU -- A tropical depression that has raised a flash flood watch on Hawaii's Big Island has moved on by, leaving a few inches of rain and no major problems.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu says there was what it calls "some nuisance flooding" but nothing out of the ordinary.

The depression was this year's first Pacific tropical cyclone, before it weakened earlier this week. Up to five inches of rain fell over six hours as it moved through, with wind gusts reaching 40 miles per hour for a brief time.

Forecasters say the rain was actually welcome, because the islands have been going through a "pretty severe drought."