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

77 – 61  Lihue, Kauai
77 – 62  Honolulu, Oahu
80 – 61  Kahului AP, Maui
80 – 63  Kona Int’l AP
78 – 60  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.04  Kilohana, Kauai
0.13  Poamoho RG 1, Oahu
 0.10  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.42  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.23  Kapapala Ranch, Big Island

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

17  Lihue, Kauai
29  Kuaokala, Oahu
20  Molokai
24   Lanai
27  Kahoolawe
21  Maalaea Bay, Maui
27  Kohala Ranch, 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

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A low pressure system remains active well northeast of the islands, while a high pressure system is located far north…the combination of which is prompting chilly northerly winds 

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North-northeast winds are carrying clouds into the island chain

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More clouds are moving into the windward sides

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Showers falling generally along the windward sides of the islands – Looping radar image

 

High Surf Advisory…east shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island


~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

The winds will remain cool from the north…although gradually turn more northeast to east. Here’s the latest weather map, showing a low pressure center to the northeast of Hawaii. At the same time we find a large high pressure system far to the north, with an associated high pressure ridge near the islands now. Our winds will be light to locally moderate from the north to northeast generally.As we get into the first part of the new week, our winds will become lighter from the southeast ahead of the next weak cold front. This in turn will bring warmer weather, and bring volcanic haze (vog) from the Big Island vents…up along the smaller islands.

Cool and mainly dry weather will prevail…along with some occasional windward showers. Dry and cool weather has arrived in the wake of the recent cold front, which will keep a winter feel to our environment for the time being. The north winds will shift northeast to east, and then southeast later Monday into Tuesday, which will help take the chill out of the air then. The next cold front, approaching the Hawaiian Islands Tuesday and Wednesday, will pass by to the north without reaching the state. Looking even further ahead, yet another cold front will approach, although should also stall before arriving…although may get close enough to bring an increase in showers to Kauai and Oahu later next week.

Marine environment details:  Winds over the coastal waters will remain below Small Craft Advisory criteria on into the middle of the new week. Winds will blow from the north and northeast tonight before swinging around to the east Sunday. As a ridge of high pressure moves over the area Monday and Tuesday, winds will become rather light…favoring a general southeasterly direction. However with the winds being so light, local land and sea breezes will prevail in many locations. A new northwest swell arriving Wednesday may cause seas to reach advisory levels over exposed waters.

The current north-northeast swell will linger, then lower Monday. The High Surf Advisory posted for east facing shores has been extended through Sunday afternoon, as little change in swell and surf heights are expected. A new north-northeast swell arriving Tuesday could boost surf heights once again to near advisory levels along exposed east facing shores.

A small northwest swell will fill in Monday night and Tuesday. A larger northwest swell is expected to arrive on Wednesday, peak Wednesday night and early Thursday, then lower gradually on into Friday. Surf heights are expected to reach advisory levels during the peak of the swell. A small south swell is also on tap during the Monday through Wednesday time period.

Friday Evening Film: The film I went to see last evening is one that I’d been resisting, despite the fact that the leading actors are two of my favorites. It was something about it being a musical…that didn’t seem appealing to me. It’s called La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, J.K. Simmons, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Finn Wittrock…among many others. The synopsis: Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Damien Chazelle, this film tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.

First of all let me say that the critics have been very generous with this film, and after seeing it…I understand why. One of the things that I appreciated, was the melancholic feeling it gave me along the way. It was refreshingly different, vibrant and very energetic in parts, not to mention colorful. As one critic said, “La La Land’s song-and-dance never feels routine, knowing when to soar and when to come, tapping, down to earth.” To tell you the truth, I didn’t think I was going to like sitting through a musical, although I surely did…very much in fact. Perhaps not a classic masterpiece, although it definitely bordered on it from beginning to end. As for a grade, it felt like a very strong B+ piece of work to me. Here’s a trailer if you’d care to take a look at this comedy drama, musical and performing arts film.

 

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Windward showers…otherwise dry

 

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


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>>> 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)

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 01W is now active, as it moves through the central Philippines. Here’s the JTWC graphical track map, a satellite image…and what the computer models are showing.

>>> South Pacific Ocean: No active tropical cyclones


>>> North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea: No active tropical cyclones

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


Interesting: Rocky mountain haze – Many people head to the mountains in the summer to get above the haze of the cities and valleys. A new study finds that the haze could be catching up.

University of Utah atmospheric scientist Gannet Hallar and colleagues find a correlation between the severity of drought in the Intermountain West and the summertime air quality, particularly the concentration of aerosol particles, in remote mountain wilderness regions. The link between drought and haze is likely wildfire, the researchers write in Environmental Research Letters. Climate projections suggest that drought and wildfire risk will continue to increase in coming decades.

“If you take that into the future, we’re going to see significant hazing of the West,” Hallar says.

Haze in the air is caused by small airborne particles—typically dust, soot, ash or smoke. Aerosols are particles so small that they are suspended in air and don’t settle out. Fog and steam can also be considered aerosols.

Their role in modifying the climate is significant, depending on the composition of the particles. Dust particles made of mineral grains can reflect solar energy, providing a cooling effect. Aerosol particles made of organic carbon, such as soot or smoke, can absorb energy, however, warming the climate. Further, aerosol particles can trigger cloud formation, which exerts its own influence over global temperature and climate. Aerosols are an important component of the atmospheric energy balance.

Hallar conducts research at Storm Peak Laboratory, a research lab near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, at an elevation of 10,525 feet above sea level. The lab, a part of the Desert Research Institute, measures aerosol optical depth, the amount of aerosols between the sensor and the sun. Researchers noticed that decades of aerosol optical depth records consistently showed increased in the summer. A previous global study of aerosols had showed that, in general, aerosol concentrations were decreasing across the United States except for a summertime peak at a site in the western U.S.

The team, consisting of hydrologists and atmospheric scientists, looked at climate and drought records for the West to see if they could find a connection to the summer mountain haze. They found a correlation between drought and high-elevation aerosols, with a very likely explanation. “It’s the fires,” Hallar says. Further analysis of summer wildfire area burnt in the West showed a good correlation with aerosol optical depth in the northern, central and southern Rockies.

“It’s a strong evidence that the drought is probably allowing for more wildfires and the fires are most likely allowing for more aerosols,” Hallar says.

Hallar says that her team’s observations allow for comparison with climate models’ simulated effects of fires on aerosol emissions. The models use assumptions to estimate how much aerosol pollution results from an area of forest burned, which can lead to uncertainties in the conclusions. “We’re putting a moment of real data in there,” Hallar says, and notes that their observational data isn’t far off from what the models predict. “That has me concerned because climate models are predicting in the future a significant increase in organic aerosol loading.”

Even more concerning is that Hallar’s data came from wilderness areas—those preserved for their untouched natural beauty. A wilderness area’s borders, however, can’t keep the haze out.

Hallar hopes that her results highlight the importance of managing the relationship between drought, fire and haze in the West. “We need to think about fires in the realm of air quality,” she says.