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Traffic on sun-baked Maui Veterans Highway travels through a cloud of wind-blown dust Tuesday afternoon. Maui County is under a high wind warning through today as Tropical Storm Calvin passes south of the islands. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Tropical Storm Calvin has regained strength slightly as it continues its path southward of Maui County today, bringing the potential for strong winds, high surf and heavy rain.

The storm was located 150 miles south-southeast of Hilo and traveling west at 21 mph with maximum winds of 60 mph as of 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. It was expected to remain a tropical storm over the next 36 hours before weakening quickly afterward.

Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches is in the forecast for windward areas of Maui, which could lead to flash flooding and mudslides, the hurricane center said. All counties are under a flood watch through this afternoon.

Maui County is also under a high wind warning through 6 p.m. today, with northeast winds of 30 to 45 mph and localized gusts over 60 mph expected across the four islands, and east winds of 35 to 55 mph and localized gusts over 65 mph expected for Haleakala summit, according to the National Weather Service. Winds were expected to steadily strengthen Tuesday night, with damaging winds possible especially over Maui County.

Tropical Storm Calvin is projected to pass south of Maui County today according to this forecast model by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER graphic

A gale warning is in effect until 6 p.m. today for Maalaea Bay and Pailolo Channel, with northeast winds of 30 to 40 knots and gusts up to 55 knots expected. Seas may reach 6 to 9 feet in Maalaea Bay and 9 to 12 feet in Pailolo Channel.

East-facing shores of Maui, Molokai and Kahoolawe are also under a high surf warning through 6 p.m. today, with the weather service predicting “dangerously large and disorganized waves of 15 to 20 feet.”

Maui County said Tuesday that staff were preparing for the storm by inspecting and clearing culverts, inspecting and testing drainage pumps, lowering sand plugs in Kihei to help potential release of floodwaters and assembling traffic control devices for possible hazards or closures of roadways.

The county said there are no planned closures but that it would make public announcements as necessary if conditions worsen.

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