Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / January 10-11, 2017

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

80 – 65  Lihue, Kauai
81 – 64  Honolulu, Oahu
83 – 61  Kahului AP, Maui
81 – 67  Kona Int’l AP
80 – 62  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.01  Kilohana, Kauai
0.01  Kahuku, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.01  Hana AP, Maui
0.21  Saddle Quarry, Big Island

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

10  Port Allen, Kauai
22  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu 
18  Molokai
14  Lanai 
31  Kahoolawe
15  Kula 1, Maui
23  South Point, Big Island

Here’s a wind profile of the Pacific Ocean – Closer view of the islands – Here’s the Hawaiian Islands NOAA Vog model animation

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

Low pressure systems are active well northeast through northwest of the islands, while high pressure systems are located to our north and east…keeping light breezes over the Hawaiian Islands

A cold front is located just to our north, although won’t reach us…with the next frontal boundary approaching to the northwest

Partly to mostly cloudy…with high clouds moving over the state

Just a few showers – Looping radar image

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

The winds remain light over the state…with volcanic haze over many areas. Here’s the latest weather map, showing low pressure centers well to the northeast through north-northwest of Hawaii…with an associated cold front located north of the islands. Meanwhile, we find high pressure systems to the northeast and east of the islands…with an associated ridge near Kauai. A bit later in the week, a somewhat stronger cold front will get closer to the state. These fronts will keep the ridge of high pressure tamped-down over or near us…through the rest of the week. This is turn will keep our atmosphere stable, and at the same time keep volcanic haze (vog) over us as well. Looking even further ahead, we may see the return of trade winds later this weekend or early next week, which could help to whisk the voggy conditions away then.

Mainly dry weather will prevail…with just a few showers through this first half of the week. The cold front just north of the Hawaiian Islands now, will recede a bit northward, leaving us alone. Thus, we won’t see any showers being brought into the state from this first frontal boundary itself. However, there will be the chance of some minor afternoon upcountry showers here and there, especially on the Big Island. These few showers will be prompted by the daytime sea breezes moving up the leeward slopes. None-the-less, with our atmosphere remaining stable, any rainfall will remain light for the most part anyway. Looking further ahead, yet another somewhat stronger cold front will approach in the later Wednesday-Thursday time frame, although should also stop just short of reaching Kauai. However, it may get close enough to bring an increase in showers to Kauai and perhaps Oahu later in the week.

Marine environment details: The new north-northeast swell will peak Wednesday, and then slowly drop through the end of the week. The direction of this swell will allow for an increase in surf along east facing shores as well as north shores.

A small northwest swell is expected to gradually fill in over the next couple of days. A bit larger and longer period northwest swell is expected to fill in late Wednesday and Wednesday night. Resulting surf heights reaching low end advisory levels during the peak of the swell.

A larger, long-period west-northwest swell is expected to arrive Thursday night, and peak late Friday and Friday night. The resulting surf heights will likely reaching warning levels along exposed north and west facing shorelines. This swell will lower gradually over the weekend.

With a surface ridge lingering across the area for the remainder of this week, winds will remain below Small Craft Advisory levels through Friday. The background wind flow will generally be from the southeast over the eastern waters, while favoring a more southerly component over the western waters. Local land and sea breezes can also be expected over nearshore waters under this light wind regime.

The above mentioned west-northwest swell arriving Thursday night will cause seas to exceed Small Craft Advisory threshold over waters exposed to this swell.

Very few showers, volcanic haze…sun/moon dimming high cirrus clouds

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)