Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / December 31, 2016 – January 1, 2017

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

77 – 63  Lihue, Kauai
79 – 66  Honolulu, Oahu
78 – 70  Molokai AP
78 – 70  Kahului AP, Maui
82 – 67  Kailua Kona AP
78 – 65  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.20  Wainiha, Kauai
0.82  Tunnel RG, Oahu
6.25  Molokai
0.03  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
11.04  West Wailuaiki, Maui!
0.26  Kapapala Ranch, Big Island

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Saturday night:

25  Lihue, Kauai
32  Kuaokala, Oahu
23  Molokai
30  Lanai
40  Kahoolawe
24  Maalaea Bay, Maui
20  Waikoloa, Big Island

Here’s a wind profile of the Pacific Ocean – Closer view of the islands

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

There’s a counter-clockwise rotating low pressure system well north-northeast of the islands, which has an associated cold front stalled near Maui County and the Big Island…with the next cold front showing up to the far northwest of Hawaii

Clouds over the eastern islands…clearing elsewhere

Clouds bringing windward showers to the islands locally…and that cold front still over Maui

Showers falling along the cold front…over windward Maui County and northern Big Island for the most part – Looping radar image

Small Craft Advisory…Alenuihaha Channel between east Maui and Kohala District on the Big Island

 Flood Advisory…Kohala Mountains and along the Hamakua coast on the Big Island

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Happy New Year 2017!

The trade winds continue to blow over us…although will weaken into the early part of the new week. Here’s the latest weather map, showing a very strong, near 1045 millibar high pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska. At the same time we see a low pressure center not too far to the north-northeast of Hawaii, with its trailing cold front stretching across Maui. The tail end of this frontal cloud band is currently stationary near Maui, and will slowly dissipate in place there or over some part of the Big Island. The recent gusty trade winds will give way to lighter trade wind breezes during this holiday weekend into early next year. As we get into the middle of the new week, our winds may become even lighter…as another weak cold front may approach the state during the second half of the upcoming work week.

Showers will fall locally across Maui County, in association with moisture brought our way by an early winter cold front. Showers will focus their efforts along our windward coasts and slopes. An upper level trough of low pressure moving over the state will prompt increased shower intensities here and there, although will gradually lose its influence. Cool and mainly dry weather will prevail across Oahu and Kauai in contrast. As we push into New Year’s Day, showers will decrease further as the cold front fades away. Relatively cool conditions in the wake of this front, will continue on into the first several days of the new week, along with mainly dry weather. This quiet reality will prevail through most of the first week of 2017, although there’s still that chance we may see another weak cold front approach the state around Wednesday.

Marine environment details: Seas have continued to decline at all the nearshore buoys, but remain high enough to keep the High Surf Advisory for east facing shores. Expect the seas to continue to decline today, with surf falling below advisory levels for the east facing shores by midday.

The current north-northeast swell will continue to subside through Sunday with a new northeast swell expected to arrive Sunday night, peaking early Monday below advisory levels. A northwest swell is expected to arrive Tuesday, and peak below advisory levels Wednesday.

The Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains up for most waters for a combination of winds and seas. The winds have settled down a bit, although are expected to have a little boost this morning. Meanwhile the above mentioned swell will continue to decline by midday. Although the SCA for most areas should be lowered at noon, some adjusting of those areas may be necessary. Otherwise, winds are likely going to remain strong enough for an SCA for some of the typically windier locations into Sunday.

Friday Evening Film: There are several good films playing here on Maui now. The one I picked to see is a drama called Manchester By The Sea, starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Gretchen Mol…among many others. The synopsis: After the death of his older brother Joe, Lee Chandler is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick. Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited 16-year-old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi and the community where he was born and raised. Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him.

This film was very good, although rather tragic and painful throughout…laced with elements of humor at times too. It was a deeply emotional piece of work, led by Affleck’s great performance, who carried the film on his shoulders adeptly. As one critic said, the sadness of “Manchester by the Sea” is the kind of sadness that makes you feel more alive, rather than less, to the preciousness of things.” It was full of love, although achingly complex at times…showing through at just the right spots. As for a grade, I felt it rated a B+, a strong B+ grade in fact. Here’s the trailer so you can take a quick peek if you’d like.

World-wide tropical cyclone activity…with storms showing up when active

>>> Atlantic Ocean: The 2016 hurricane season has ended

Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean

>>> Caribbean: The 2016 hurricane season has ended

>>> Gulf of Mexico: The 2016 hurricane season has ended

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 2016 hurricane season has ended

Here’s the NOAA 2016 Hurricane Season Summary for the Eastern Pacific Basin

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 2016 hurricane season has ended

Here’s the NOAA 2016 Hurricane Season Summary for the Central Pacific Basin

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