Hawaiian Islands Weather details & Aloha Paragraphs / September 30 – October 1, 2014

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Tuesday:

88  Lihue, Kauai
87  Honolulu, Oahu 
81  Molokai
91  Kahului, Maui – the record highest temperature for Tuesday was 93…back in 1980
M   Kailua Kona
88  Hilo, Hawaii

Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands, as of Tuesday evening:

2.40  Wainiha, Kauai
4.25  Waihee Pump, Oahu
0.71  Molokai 1, Molokai
2.99  Lanai
0.12  Kahoolawe
1.68  Kaupo Gap, Maui
1.85  Pahala, Big Island

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph)…as of Tuesday evening:

16  Mana, Kauai
13  Makua Range, Oahu
18  Molokai
12  Lanai
20  Kahoolawe
13  Hana, Maui
22  Upolu AP, Big Island

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live web cam on the summit of near 13,800 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. This web cam is available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon shining down during the night at times. Plus, during the nights you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise and sunset too… depending upon weather conditions.

Aloha Paragraphs

We find a cold front approaching the state to the northwest…with
high cirrus clouds clipping the southern part of the state

Light trade winds for the second half of the week

High Surf Advisory…south facing shores – until 6am Thursday

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

>>> Atlantic Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean

>>> Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> Gulf of Mexico: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s a satellite image of the Caribbean Sea…and the Gulf of Mexico.

Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)

>>> Eastern Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

Shower and thunderstorm activity has increased a little in
association with an elongated area of low pressure located a couple
hundred miles south of the southern coast of Mexico. Environmental
conditions are favorable for a tropical depression to form later
today or Thursday while the system moves toward the west-northwest
or northwest near 10 mph. Regardless of tropical cyclone formation,
this disturbance will likely produce locally heavy rains over
portions of southern Mexico that could cause flash flooding and mud
slides.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...high...70 percent 
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...90 percent 

Here’s a wide satellite image that covers the entire area between Mexico, out through the central Pacific…to the International Dateline.

>>> Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s a link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean: Typhoon 18W (Phanfone) remains active, located approximately 348 NM south of Iwo To…with sustained winds of near 81 mph. Here’s a graphical track map…along with a satellite image

>>> South Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> North and South Indian Oceans: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)

Interesting: Connecting Productivity of Office Workers and Climate Change – Energy efficiency in office buildings struggles to gain the attention of top management, writes John Alker – because energy is too cheap to really matter. But with 90% of operating costs spent on staff, a new report shows that green building design makes employees happier and more productive.

There would seem to be no connection between the productivity of office workers and the great challenge of climate change. But a report published by the World Green Building Council suggests otherwise.

Globally, buildings are responsible for around a third of greenhouse gas emissions through their construction, operation and demolition. The humble office has therefore found itself on the front line of efforts to reduce energy use and combat climate change over the last 10-15 years.

But despite the IPCC showing that there is more potential for cost effective carbon mitigation in buildings than any other sector, a recent International Energy Agency report suggested we have tapped into less than 20% of this potential.

As world leaders convened this week to yet again agree that we need to take action on carbon emissions, it’s a valid question to ask how on earth we are going to have any success when we don’t seem to be able to do it in one of the easiest, most economical sectors.

People costs versus energy costs – 90:1

Part of the answer to that question is that – like it or not – energy does not cost enough for most office-based organizations to worry about, often representing just 1% of operating expenses. So energy efficiency often fails to get traction at board level.

Staff costs are another thing altogether – typically responsible for 90% of operating costs, with the remaining 9% going on rent.

This means that small improvements in employee health, sense of well being and resulting productivity are of tremendous value to employers. Poor mental health alone costs UK employers £30 billion a year through lost production, recruitment and absence.

What is really tantalizing, and at the heart of our report, is the prospect of low carbon buildings positively enhancing health, wellbeing and productivity of occupants.

It follows that if you can reliably quantify the human benefits of low carbon buildings, this provides a much more compelling return on investment than at best modest savings on energy bills.