Hawaii hit by strong rain as tropical storm brushes by

Heavy rains hit parts of Hawaii and strong waves pummeled shorelines as a downgraded yet potent Pacific storm passed near the island state.
Though Tropical Storm Madeline was no longer a hurricane, the weather’s uncertainty couldn’t let Hawaii’s Big Island relax.
There were periods of intense rainfall on Wednesday (Hawaii local time) as the National Weather Service downgraded Madeline, with winds falling below hurricane strength of 74 mph.
Madeline’s center was about 200 miles south of Hilo and moving west-southwest and away from the state at 14 mph. Though the storm was not predicted to make landfall on any Hawaiian island, the Big Island and Maui County remained under tropical storm warnings because of threats from wind and rain.
Officials said residents should continue to be prepared for more rain, strong winds and high surf overnight. The rainfall may lead to dangerous flash floods and mudslides, the weather service warned.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a strong tropical storm or a category 1 hurricane,” said Eric Lau, a meteorologist with the weather service. “If you have 70 mph winds versus 75 mph winds, it’s still a strong storm, so residents still need to be prepared.” MDT/AP