The deadly wildfires that struck Maui, Hawaii, in August left ash in their wake, coating the once vibrant place in the dark dust of the aftermath.

     The wildfire left tons of ash from burnt buildings, plants, and trees. Not only did this ash make it inconvenient to people trying to navigate, but it also proves deadly.

     Forecasters state that massive winter storms are planned to strike Hawaii, and officials are worried that the ash from August’s wildfires will get swept up by the water, and carried into the storm drains. Maui county has set up parameters to attempt to counter this from happening by setting up straw barriers. These barriers are purposed to allow rain in, but keep small specs, like ash or dust, out.

     The National weather service said rain falling at a rate of 1 inch an hour could trigger localized flooding over the burn scars in surrounding regions, where the deadly flames also reached in August. The National Weather service also let out a flood warning all throughout the week, as for even a cyclone could form because of the humid waters, moist air, and the cold winds could potentially make something even more dangerous than a common flood.

     Even more so, more storms and intense flooding could potentially occur in the near future, heightening the tensions for the people in Maui. After being hit by wildfires, and now floods, officials expect to be left in an economic drought, stuck repairing the damages from the recent disasters. Not only this, but the peaks of the mountains could become extremely cold and snowy, which can also damage the city even further. The snow is expected to be about 5 inches, and can even storm further with hail. This economic drought could potentially scar the economy of Maui, and even Hawaii itself.