Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Wednesday…along with the minimums Wednesday:

87 – 79  Lihue, Kauai
90 – 77  Honolulu, Oahu – the record for Wednesday was 92…set back in 1987
91 – 72  Molokai
93 – 72  Kahului, Maui – broke the record for Wednesday…92 set back in 1965
89 – 76  Kailua Kona
88 – 70  Hilo, Hawaii

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

3.43  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.28  Mililani, Oahu
0.01  Kamalo, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.01  Kahului AP, Maui
0.07  Honaunau, Big Island

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

20  Waimea Heights, Kauai – SE
25  Honolulu AP, Oahu – NE
29  Molokai – ENE
27  Lanai – NE
42  Kahoolawe – NE
31  Kahului AP, Maui – NE 
33  Kealakomo, Big Island – ENE

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

http://weather.unisys.com/satellite/sat_ir_enh_west_loop-12.gif
We see tropical disturbances and tropical cyclones in the
deeper tropics…including Post-tropical cyclone 08E…
and Tropical Storm Guillermo

http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/ep0915.gif

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/cpac/vis.jpg
Thunderstorms remain offshore to the south, southwest,
west, northwest and north of the islands – Looping version


http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/hi/vis.jpg
Clear to partly cloudy over the islands…a
tropical disturbance is west of Kauai, while
showery clouds are approaching from the east
Looping version


http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/RadarImg/hawaii.gif
Just a few showers in our vicinity…which will increase
along our windward sides tonight
looping radar image

Small Craft Wind Advisory…windiest coasts and
channels around Maui County and the Big Island

July’s second full moon, the Blue Moon…occurs Friday

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~



The trade winds will increase in strength through the rest of this week. Here’s the latest weather map, showing the Hawaiian Islands, and the rest of the North Pacific Ocean, along with a real-time wind profiler of the central Pacific. We find moderately strong high pressure systems far to the northwest, north and northeast of the state. At the same time, we have troughs/low pressure systems to the northwest and southeast and east-southeast. We’ll see periodic increases in trade wind speeds, as some of these low pressure systems move by to the south of the state…through the rest of this week.

There will be an area of showery clouds moving into the state from the east soon…bring some showers to our windward sides at times through the next several days.  The next likely wetter episode may arrive this coming weekend into early next week. A weak tropical system will be moving by to the south of the state then, and the northern fringe of this tropical moisture may spread up over the eastern side of the island chain then. There may be another slug of moisture arriving next week around Tuesday or Wednesday, as a second tropical system moves into our general area. The leeward sides will be quite dry through the next several days.

The deeper tropics remain active all the way towards Mexico. I’ll be watching this elongated zone to Hawaii’s south, southeast, and east-southeast. There’s the good chance that a former tropical system, with its associated moisture may get closer to our area this weekend. This area is currently Post-tropical cyclone 08E, here’s a satellite image of its location, the looping version. At this point, it appears that whatever is left, of post-tropical cyclone 08E…may eventually pass south of the Big Island this weekend.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm 09E (Guillermo) remains active…and will become hurricane Guillermo Friday. Here’s a satellite image of this area, along with the looping version…and finally what the computer models are showing. It looks as if this tropical system will move close to the islands around the middle of next week…or pass to our northeast. This will bring hot and muggy weather our way then! I’ll be keeping a close eye on both of these tropical systems through the rest of this week, into next week. I’ll be back with more updates on all of the above and below, I hope you have a great Wednesday night wherever you’re spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Here on Maui…It’s 550am Wednesday morning, skies are mostly clear, with a bit of high cirrus to our north…which lit up a pretty pink at sunrise. I can see light haze again today in our air as well. The air temperature here in Kula, at my upcountry weather tower was 58.1 degrees, while it was 74 down at the Kahului airport, 77 out in Hana, and 48 degrees up at the summit of the Haleakala Crater at about the same time.

– We’re into the middle of the afternoon now, with sunny to partly sunny skies in the lower elevations…and partly to mostly cloudy skies over and around the mountains. Looking down into the central valley, from up here in Kula, I can still see light vog in the air. I’m expecting this haze to gradually diminish, as the trade winds continue to blow. 

– It’s now early evening, under mostly sunny skies, with the trade winds blowing…and very warm temperatures. It’s so clear, one of those especially clear times…making for a summer tropical reality! There’s a bit of high cirrus clouds showing up on our southwestern horizon, which should give us a nice colorful sunset. / A bit later, the almost full moon is beaming down tonight!


World-wide tropical cyclone activity:

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

1.)  A tropical wave accompanied by a broad area of low pressure is located a couple of hundred miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. Although this system is currently producing a large area of showers and thunderstorms, further development, if any, should be slow to occur while it moves westward near 15 mph during the next several days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent
* Formation chance through 5 days…low…30 percent

2.)   An elongated area of low pressure located a couple of hundred miles east of the Georgia coast is accompanied by disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. The low is expected to move northeastward parallel to the southeastern coast of the United States with no significant development, and is forecast to merge with a frontal system by Friday.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent
* Formation chance through 5 days…low…10 percent

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

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

Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean

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

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days over the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Ocean

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

>>> Eastern Pacific:

Post-tropical cyclone 08E is now dissipating, and is located about 1055 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii. Former 08E has not become a remnant low pressure system. Here’s a NHC graphical track map, along with a satellite image.

Tropical Storm 09E (Guillermo) remains active, and is located about 1505 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. TS 09E will quickly strengthen, and become hurricane Guillermo in about 24 hours. Here’s a NHC graphical track map, along with a satellite image, and what the computer models are showing.

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

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

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

1.)  The National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida has issued its final advisory on post-tropical cyclone 08E, located about 1040 miles east of Hilo Hawaii.

2.)  NHC is issuing advisories on tropical storm Guillermo, located about 1975 miles east-southeast of Hilo Hawaii. Guillermo is not expected to cross into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center area of responsibility until Saturday afternoon.

3.)  An area of low pressure is located about 675 miles south- southeast of Hilo Hawaii. The low is generating only isolated thunderstorms as it heads west at 10 to 15 mph. Vertical wind shear over the system is expected to inhibit development over the next couple of days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours, low…near 0 percent

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

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean: 
Tropical Storm 13W is now active, located about 564 NM northeast of Chuuk, FSM. Here’s the JTWC graphical track map…and a satellite image…and what the computer models are showing.
>>> South Pacific Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones


>>> North and South Indian Oceans:

Tropical cyclone 02B is dissipating inland over India, located about 12 NM north of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Here’s the JTWC graphical track map…and a satellite image – Final Warning

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

Interesting:  Humpback Whale conservation is working in Australia – Australia has one of the highest rates of animal species that face extinction, decline or negative impacts from human behavior in the world. However, over the last decade, there have been rare occurrences of animals that are rebounding and thriving. One example is the conservation success story of the recovery of the humpback whales that breed in both East and West Australian waters. This new study, published in Marine Policy and led by Dr. Michelle Bejder, reviews data collected in past studies and proposes a revision of the conservation status for the humpback whales found in Australian waters.

In Australia, the east and west coast humpback whale populations are listed as a threatened species with a ‘vulnerable’ status as defined by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). However, according to Professor Lars Bejder at Murdoch University Australia, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences and his international co-authors, data reveals that these whale populations are increasing at remarkable rates (9% for West Coast and 10% for East Coast; as of 2012), the highest documented worldwide. As of 2012, both the East and West Coast whale populations had more than 63% (East Coast) and 90% (West Coast) of the number of whales estimated in each population before the whaling era (approximately 1912-1972). Since humpback whales no longer fulfil the criteria of the EPBC Act, the study suggests, they should have their conservation status revised. 

“Our conclusions serve as an example of optimism and hope in the conservation of marine fauna protection, as the relentless communication of marine conservation problems does not always encourage politicians, policy makers, and the public to solve them,” said Prof. Bejder. “We highlight a success story, which provides hope and optimism that ongoing conservation actions can prevail.”

Should humpback whales be removed from the threatened species list, a direct consequence for conservation biology could be the redirection of research and management funding to enhance the survival of other species and ecosystems that are in greater risk of extinction. Furthermore should removal or downlisting occur, the whales would still be protected in Australian waters as a Matter of National Environmental Significance, because they are considered migratory species. On the international level, the International Whaling Commission manages the global moratorium on commercial whaling, which is essential to maintain the humpback whales’ successful recovery.

“Future challenges in Australia will be to protect a marine environment that contains growing humpback whale populations and to develop alternative approaches to ecological sustainability,” said Dr. David Johnston of Duke University USA, co-author of the study. “There will be increases in interactions with maritime users, including acoustic disturbance from noise, collisions with vessels, entanglements in fishing gear, habitat destruction from coastal development and cumulative interactions with the whale-watch industry. Therefore, adaptive management actions and new approaches to gain public support will be vital to maintain the growth and recovery of Australian humpback whales and prevent future population declines.”

Summarizing the key message of the review study, Prof. Bejder stated, “The recovery of the iconic humpback whales of Australia delivers both hope and optimism, as well as an opportunity to celebrate success at two levels: (1) the successful implementation of contentious international management actions to protect marine species; and (2) the wise and significant investment in conservation science, illustrating how society can respond to strong conservation interventions to achieve outcomes that are not simply for immediate, human material gains. While significant (often seemingly insurmountable) obstacles stand in the face of conserving many marine species and ecosystems, humpback whales provide an opportunity to embrace a conservation success.”