Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / September 29-30, 2016

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

87 – 75  Lihue, Kauai
84 – 73  Honolulu, Oahu
86 – 75  Molokai AP
90 – 74  Kahului AP, Maui – Thursday record high was 94
89 – 75  Kailua Kona
84 – 72  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

2.90  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
2.31  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.29  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
1.25  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.68  Kawainui Stream, Big Island

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

27  Port Allen, Kauai
38  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
25  Molokai
29  Lanai
27  Kahoolawe
25  Maalaea Bay, Maui
24  Waikoloa, Big Island

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of our tallest mountain Mauna Kea (nearly 13,800 feet high) on the Big Island of Hawaii. This webcam is available during the daylight hours here in the islands, and at night whenever there’s a big moon shining down. Also, at night you will be able to see the stars — and the sunrise and sunset too — depending upon weather conditions.

Aloha Paragraphs

Tropical Storm Ulika is spinning well east-southeast of the islands

Tropical Storm Ulika is around 900 miles east-southeast of the islands, with a large thunderstorm complex well south of the state, sending cirrus clouds over the Big Island

Close-up view of TS Ulika

Looping satellite images of TS Ulika, with upper level wind shear now taking its toll on this weakening storm

What the computer models are showing for TS Ulika, which won’t bring wind to Hawaii, although whatever is left of the low level circulation, may bring showers later this weekend into early next week, as it passes across…or just south of the Big Island

Clear to partly cloudy, with the northern edge of thick cirrus just to our south

Showers mostly windward and offshore – Looping radar image

Small Craft Advisory…Maalaea Bay, Maui, Pailolo and Alenuihaha Channels, Big Island leeward and southeast waters

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

The trade winds will remain moderately strong through the weekend. Here’s the latest weather map, showing a strong near 1039 millibar high pressure system far to our north, the source of our trade wind flow at the moment. At the same time, there’s troughs of low pressure to the south of the state, in addition to tropical storm Ulika well east-southeast. Our trade winds will hold on through the rest of the week, although they may falter after the weekend for a few days. The winds may shift around to the east to southeast, bringing sultry conditions, and possibly a short bout of volcanic haze to the smaller islands.

Here’s a wind profile of the offshore waters around the islands – with a closer view

Here’s the Hawaiian Islands Sulfate Aerosol animated graphic, showing vog forecast

Generally fair weather through Friday. Most computer models remain insistent that a weather change will occur during the weekend into the first couple of days of next week, resulting in an increase in showers. This will be partially associated with what will be retired tropical cyclone 19E (Ulika), currently located about 900 miles east-southeast of the Big Island, as the remnants move close to the state. In addition, there will be a shower-enhancing trough of low pressure over our area this weekend as well. There’s a chance that we’ll find locally heavy rains overlapping the state at times this weekend into the first part of next week, stay tuned. As we reach the middle of next week, improving weather conditions will return.

Marine environment details: High pressure far to the north of the state will keep a moderate to breezy trade wind flow in place through the weekend. A small craft advisory is in effect for the typically windier areas near Maui and the Big Island through Friday, and may eventually need to be extended through the weekend.

Easterly swell resulting from the trade winds will continue through the remainder of the week. A modest rise in surf heights is expected for east facing shores over the weekend, as the remnants of Ulika approach from the east. Elsewhere, surf heights will remain small through early next week.

Generally fine weather today

World-wide tropical cyclone activity…

>>> Atlantic Ocean:

Hurricane 14L (Matthew) remains active, located approximately 495 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Here’s the NHC graphical track map, a satellite image, and what the computer models are showing

Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean

>>> Caribbean: No active tropical cyclones

>>> Gulf of Mexico: 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: No active tropical cyclones

1.)  A trough of low pressure, located a few hundred miles south- southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, is moving west-northwestward at 5 to 10 mph. Development, if any, of this system is expected to be slow to occur before the disturbance reaches cooler waters in a couple of days.

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

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: 

Tropical Storm 19E (Ulika) remains active, located approximately 825 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii.. Here’s the CPHC graphical track map, a satellite image, and what the computer models are showing

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