Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Friday…along with the minimums Friday:
83 – 67 Lihue, Kauai
82 – 70 Honolulu, Oahu
84 – 62 Molokai AP
85 – 61 Kahului AP, Maui
83 – 69 Kona AP
79 – 67 Hilo, Hawaii
Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands, as of Friday evening:
0.01 Waialae, Kauai
0.08 Manoa Lyon Arboretum, Oahu
0.04 Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.31 Haiku, Maui
0.68 Pali 2, Big Island
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph)…as of Friday evening:
13 Makaha Ridge, Kauai – SW
16 Wheeler AAF, Oahu – SSE
15 Molokai – ESE
14 Lanai – NNE
18 Kahoolawe – NE
22 Kaupo Gap, Maui – SW
21 South Point, Big Island – NW
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
Active Pacific storm track moving west to east…
north of the Hawaiian Islands
A cold front is approaching to the northwest of Hawaii
Generally clear to partly cloudy, cloudy areas locally…
mostly offshore
Showers falling locally…mostly offshore
looping radar image
Small Craft Wind Advisory…all coasts and channels
from Kauai down through Maui County
Wind Advisory…Kauai and Oahu, for north winds up to 30
mph with gusts to near 55 mph this afternoon until 6pm
Sunday evening
~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~
Our winds have now veered to the southeast, and will remain from that direction Saturday…with blustery and cool north winds Saturday night into Sunday. Here’s the latest weather map, showing the Hawaiian Islands, and the rest of the North Pacific Ocean. We find high pressure systems far northeast, with an associated ridge of high pressure extending westward, now over our islands. In addition, there’s a rapidly developing storm to the north of Hawaii, moving northeast quickly. This storm will drag a cold front across the state this weekend. In the wake of this frontal passage, we’ll find gusty and chilly northerly winds flowing over the state. It looks likely that wind advisories may be required over some parts of the island chain, issued by the NWS in Honolulu, along with small craft advisories over coastal and channel waters during this period. These chilly winds will blow into Monday and Tuesday, although become much lighter. The long range forecast then shows another short period of light trade winds, at least until mid-week.
Here’s a wind profile…of the offshore waters around the islands – with a closer view
A cold front is approaching Hawaii to the northwest of the state now…which will push into the state this weekend. The current forecast continues to suggest that we’ll see quiet weather over the state for the time being, likely through most of Saturday in fact. As we get into Saturday evening however, we’ll see a rather dramatic change in weather conditions, occurring first on Kauai and then Oahu. A cold front will influence the state then into Sunday, bringing a brief period of showers, and cool winter weather…which should extend into the first day or two of next week. This will necessitate bringing out that extra blanket for your bed during this period, and hunting up a sweat shirt too! This cold front, according to satellite imagery, seems to be holding together well, which suggests that it will have a decent chance of bringing some good rain showers our way. Dry air will flood into the state in the wake of the front, so showers should end rather quickly. As the trade winds will return soon after the frontal passage, we should see a few windward showers falling at times. There are some models that suggest another cold front approaching the state during the middle of next week.
Special Weather Statement…gusty winds with a cold front are expected this weekend here in Hawaii. A fast moving cold front will sweep down through the island chain, bringing a brief period of showers. The cold front is expected to reach Kauai later Saturday, then move quickly down through the rest of the islands Saturday night into Sunday. Very cool, dry and gusty north winds are expected Saturday night and Sunday…in the wake of this frontal passage (fropa). It will be locally windy, with strong wind gusts possible downwind of higher terrain. As far as temperatures go, high temperatures Sunday and Monday will top out in the 70’s near sea level, with low temperatures dipping into the 50’s to lower 60’s into next Tuesday morning.
Here in Maui County…It’s mostly clear early Friday morning, along with some low clouds and a few showers along the windward sides. Here in upcountry Kula, where it’s totally clear, we have an air temperature of 47.4F degrees. The temperature at near the same time was 63 degrees down in Kahului, 73 out in Hana, 63 at Maalaea Bay…and 48 atop the Haleakala Crater. Meanwhile, Kahoolawe was 68 degrees, 61 at Lanai City, with 64 at the Molokai airport. / Now at 850am, it’s such a lovely day!
– We’re into the middle afternoon now, and over the last few hours, rather thick volcanic haze (vog) has arrived here in Maui County, issuing from the vents on the Big Island…and carried here on the breezy southeasterly winds.
– Early Friday evening, and the volcanic haze has really gotten thick now. Otherwise, skies are partly cloudy, although there are very few showers.
Friday Evening Film: Once again, there are several films that I want to see, although there’s one that I’m afraid will be leaving soon, and I don’t want to miss it. This one is called Brooklyn, starring Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, and Eileen O’Higgins…among many others. The synopsis: Brooklyn tells the profoundly moving story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
This film has gotten great reviews, and after seeing it, I would agree with their assessments. It was a true love story, between two young men and the leading lady…which was very sweet. I wanted it to last longer than it did, I could have watched it develop further. I so much enjoyed hearing both the Irish and Italian ascents too. It was a heart warmer of a film, and fun to watch as well. There were plenty of tears in this story, most of which dripped down the lovely cheeks of Saoirse Ronan…the lady that these gents both wanted and desired. It was so engaging, with more than enough emotion to go around, indeed. This film was full of sensitivity, the kind that can be heart wrenching, and had me hoping that this young lady would make the right decisions. In sum, a delightfully charming film for all ages! Here’s the trailer for this film if you’re interested.
I’ll be back with many more updates on all of the above and below, I hope you have a great Friday night wherever you’re spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn
World-wide tropical cyclone activity:
>>> Atlantic Ocean: The last regularly scheduled Tropical Weather Outlook of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season…has occurred. Routine issuance of the Tropical Weather Outlook will resume on June 1, 2016. During the off-season, Special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued if conditions warrant. Here’s the 2015 hurricane season summary
Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean
>>> Caribbean Sea: The last regularly scheduled Tropical Weather Outlook of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season…has occurred. Routine issuance of the Tropical Weather Outlook will resume on June 1, 2016. During the off-season, Special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued if conditions warrant.
>>> Gulf of Mexico: The last regularly scheduled Tropical Weather Outlook of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season…has occurred. Routine issuance of the Tropical Weather Outlook will resume on June 1, 2016. During the off-season, Special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued if conditions warrant.
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: The last regularly scheduled Tropical Weather Outlook of the 2015 North Pacific hurricane season…has occurred. Routine issuance of the Tropical Weather Outlook will resume on May 15, 2016. During the off-season, Special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued if conditions warrant. Here’s the 2015 hurricane season summary
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: The central north Pacific hurricane season has officially ended. Routine issuance of the tropical weather outlook will resume on June 1, 2016. During the off-season, special tropical weather outlooks will be issued if conditions warrant. Here’s the 2015 hurricane season summary
Here’s a link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)
>>> South Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones
>>> North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones
Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Interesting: Man-made underwater sound may have wider ecosystem effects than previously thought – Underwater sound linked to human activity could alter the behavior of seabed creatures that play a vital role in marine ecosystems, according to new research from the University of Southampton.
The study, reported in the journal Scientific Reports published by Nature, found that exposure to sounds that resemble shipping traffic and offshore construction activities results in behavioral responses in certain invertebrate species that live in the marine sediment.
These species make a crucial contribution to the seabed ecosystem as their burrowing and bio-irrigation activities (how much the organism moves water in and out of the sediment by its actions) are crucial in nutrient recycling and carbon storage.
The study showed that some man-made sounds can cause certain species to reduce irrigation and sediment turnover. Such reductions can lead to the formation of compacted sediments that suffer reduced oxygen, potentially becoming anoxic (depleted of dissolved oxygen and a more severe condition of hypoxia), which may have an impact on seabed productivity, sediment biodiversity and also fisheries production.
Lead author Martin Solan, Professor in Marine Ecology, said: “Coastal and shelf environments support high levels of biodiversity that are vital in mediating ecosystem processes, but they are also subject to noise associated with increasing levels of offshore human activity. Previous work has almost exclusively focused on direct physiological or behavioural responses in marine mammals and fish, and has not previously addressed the indirect impacts of sound on ecosystem properties.
“Our study provides evidence that exposing coastal environments to anthropogenic sound fields is likely to have much wider ecosystem consequences than are presently understood.”
The Southampton researchers exposed three species – the langoustine (Nephrops norvegicus), a slim, orange-pink lobster which grows up to 25 cm long, the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and the brittlestar (Amphiura filfiformis) ¬– to two different types of underwater sound fields: continuous broadband noise (CBN) that mimics shipping traffic and intermittent broadband noise (IBN) reflecting marine construction activity.
The sounds were reproduced in controlled test tanks and experiments were run on one species at a time. For CBN, a recording (one minute duration, continuously looped) of a ship made in the English Channel at a distance of around 100 metres was used’. For IBN, a recording (two minutes duration, continuously looped) of a wind farm in the North Sea at a distance of about 60 meters was used.
The results showed that the sounds could alter the way these species behaved when interacting with their environments.
With the langoustine, which disturbs the sediment to create burrows in which it lives, the researchers saw a reduction in the depth of sediment redistribution (how much of the surface sediment was overturned into the deeper layers) with exposure to IBN or CBN. Under CBN and IBN there was evidence that bio-irrigation increased.
The Manila clam, a commercial fishery species in Europe that lives in the sediment and connects to the overlying water through a retractable siphon, reduced its surface activity under CBN, which affected the surface roughness of the sediment. Bio-irrigation, which is strongly influenced by clam behavior and the activity of the siphon, was markedly reduced by CBN and slightly reduced under IBN.
However, the sound fields had little impact on the brittlestar.
Co-author Dr Chris Hauton, Associate Professor in Invertebrate Eco-physiology and Immune Function, said: “I think these findings raise the prospect that anthropogenic sounds in the marine environment are impacting marine invertebrate species in ways that have not been previously anticipated. The potential effects of anthropogenic noise on ecosystem function, mediated through changes in organism behavior merits further study as, in the long term, it may identify impacts to the productivity of seabed systems that have, to date, not really been constrained.”
Tim Leighton, Professor of Ultra-sonics and Underwater Acoustics and study co-author, added: “There has been much discussion over the last decade of the extent to which whales, dolphins and fish stocks, might be disturbed by the sounds from shipping, wind farms and their construction, seismic exploration etc. However, one set of ocean denizens has until now been ignored, and unlike these other classes, they cannot easily move away from loud man-made sound sources. These are the bottom feeders, such as crabs, shellfish and invertebrates similar to the ones in our study, which are crucial to healthy and commercially successful oceans because they form the bottom of the food chain.”
Email Glenn James: 
