Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / February 25-26, 2017

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

74 – 59  Lihue, Kauai
78 – 63  Honolulu, Oahu
76 – 66  Molokai
76 – 59  Kahului AP, Maui
78 – 70  Kona Int’l AP
77 – 62  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.02  Kilohana, Kauai
0.01  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.04  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.66  Hana AP, Maui
0.60  Lower Kahuku, Big Island

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

16  Port Allen, Kauai
17  Bellows, Oahu
18  Molokai
16  Lanai
22  Kahoolawe
18  Maalaea Bay, Maui
21  South Point, 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

Two counter-clockwise rotating low pressure systems are located north and northeast of the state

Lots of high clouds to the south and southwest of Hawaii…cold front north

These high and middle level clouds are thick!

Showers locally…mostly around the central islands and offshore – Looping radar image

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Light easterly trade winds and cloudy skies will prevail into Sunday. Conditions will be somewhat cooler than normal, although thick high clouds will prevent overnight low temperatures from getting too chilly. Weak high pressure ridging is expected to maintain somewhat stable conditions over our area, while the main source for rainfall will be along a loose band of low level moisture. This feature will mainly affect windward Oahu and Molokai tonight, then lift northward to Kauai Sunday. Meanwhile, the high clouds will thin somewhat Sunday, while there’s a chance for afternoon convection…with a heavy shower or two locally.

The atmosphere will become increasingly more shower prone Monday…as a trough of low pressure edges closer to the islands. High clouds should thin somewhat Sunday, although about the same time…an area of deep tropical moisture will move towards, or over our islands from the deeper tropics to our south. This moisture may reach the Big Island and windward Maui by Sunday afternoon, where heavy showers may pop up. This tropical moisture may get caught up in the easterly trade winds…which may fuel heavy shower development along windward slopes across the rest of the state Monday night.

Moist and unstable conditions will prevail Tuesday into Wednesday…raising the possibility of flash flooding, as well as winter storm conditions on the  summits of the Big Island. The models then show that a trough of low pressure will tap into tropical moisture surging up from the south…to create conditions favorable for localized flooding rainfall and thunderstorms. Drier and increasingly stable conditions should develop Thursday and Friday, as the deep trough lifts northeast away from the state. This will result in south to southwest kona winds, with pockets of passing showers. Looking even further ahead, the models suggest a cold front approaching the state next weekend.

Here’s a wind profile of the Pacific Ocean – Closer view of the islands / Here’s the vog forecast animation / Here’s the latest weather map

Marine environment details: The northwest swell that caused advisory level surf along north and west facing shores recently, has decreased sufficiently to warrant the expiration of the High Surf Advisory.

The small north swell will shift out of the north-northeast. A reinforcing although small swell from the north-northeast will arrive Sunday night and Monday. This could result in near advisory level surf for east facing shores through Monday night. Elsewhere, a small south-southwest swell will continue to provide a small bump to the the south shores…before gradually subsiding.

Winds will weaken and shift to the southeast starting tonight…as a trough of low pressure deepens northwest of the area. Winds and seas will remain below Small Craft Advisory levels for the next several days.

 
Generally ok weather this weekend…lots of high cirrus clouds however

World-wide tropical cyclone activity

>>> Atlantic Ocean: The 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st

Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean

>>> Caribbean: The 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st

>>> Gulf of Mexico: The 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st

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 2017 hurricane season begins May 15th

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 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st

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

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