Weather advisories map by National Weather Service

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a high wind watch for the Waikoloa and Kawaihae areas of the Big Island from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon (March 16).

Winds are forecast to come from the Northeast at 35-45 mph with localized gusts over 65 mph. The greatest sustained wind speeds and gusts are likely to be over Leeward slopes.

The wind is expected to rise through the day on Saturday and remain high through Sunday before starting to diminish Sunday night.

The strong winds can send trees, branches and other objects into roadways, power lines and/or equipment. These winds can make driving difficult especially for high profile vehicles. Motorists should use caution while driving.

Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) reminds people that if you see a downed power line you should stay as far away as possible and report any damage or outages to their dispatch center at (808) 969-6666.

A gale watch is in effect from Saturday morning through late Sunday for the Kauai and Kaiwi Channels, Maalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel along with Big Island Windward, Leeward and Southeast waters.

A small craft advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for all Hawaiian waters.