Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / February 26-27, 2017

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

77 – 59  Lihue, Kauai
81 – 66  Honolulu, Oahu
85 – 61  Molokai
84 – 62  Kahului AP, Maui
77 – 68  Kona Int’l AP
76 – 65  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.18  Mohihi Crossing, Kauai
0.30  Palehua, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.08  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.65  Lower Kahuku, Big Island

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

17  Port Allen, Kauai
22  Kahuku Trng, Oahu
23  Molokai
15  Lanai
27  Kahoolawe
14  Kaupo Gap, Maui
17  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

A dynamic counter-clockwise rotating low pressure system is located north of the state

There is no lack of cloud cover over our central Pacific

High clouds are over the Big Island…deep clouds with some generous showers offshore southwest and west

Lots of showers, mostly offshore…some are moderately heavy  – Looping radar image

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Small Craft Advisory…Pailolo and Alenuihaha Channels, and Big Island windward, leeward water, and southeast waters

Winter Storm Watch…Big Island Summits

Light to moderate trade winds will strengthen slightly Monday…before weakening again by mid-week. Winds, while remaining east to east-southeast, are expected to gradually increase Monday. This locally breezy flow will persist through Tuesday before lighter winds return for Wednesday, through the end of the week. These generally light winds will likely persist through next weekend, and the flow eventually carry volcanic haze (vog) from the Big Island vents, over the smaller islands…bringing hazy conditions Friday through next Sunday.

Model guidance continues to indicate that a trough aloft will deepen northwest of Kauai through Tuesday…before moving over the islands Tuesday night and Wednesday. This development will support thickening high clouds (again) over the whole state, while also bringing increased instability and moisture. Additionally, as the trough aloft passes over the islands, the models suggest the development of a weak surface low pressure system near the islands Wednesday. This may bring a period of unsettled weather…with the chance of heavy rain and localized thunderstorms.

A trend toward drier weather is expected Wednesday night and Thursday, as the trough aloft and associated surface low moves north…and a surface ridge of high pressure develops over the islands. Light winds and mostly dry weather are then expected to persist through the weekend. The models have been off and on showing another cold front approaching the state over the weekend…although it may stall before arriving into our area.

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 current west-northwest swell will continue to slowly lower into the early portion of the week. A small reinforcement out of the west-northwest is forecast to fill in Tuesday through mid week. Surf along exposed north and west facing shores will remain below high surf advisory levels through this time. A small to moderate north-northeast swell due to a pair of compact lows to the north of the islands will fill in across the local area through Tuesday night…peaking early Monday. This swell could produce surf near high surf advisory surf for exposed east facing shores around the peak of the swell. For the extended, the latest model guidance depicts a gale to storm force low developing and tracking a few hundred miles north of Midway Wednesday through Thursday…sending a large west-northwest swell toward the local waters for the upcoming weekend.

Light to moderately strong breezes, out of the east-southeast will continue through Tuesday morning, becoming locally strong tonight. The strongest winds will occur across the channels and around the Big Island early Monday morning, through early Tuesday morning…prompting the issuance of a Small Craft Advisory for those areas and time period. Models continue to depict a developing area of low pressure near the state by mid-week, lifting northward across the state through Thursday. Plenty of moisture and instability associated with this feature will lead to increasing shower and thunderstorm chances through this period.

Generally fine weather…although there are lots of showers offshore

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)