Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / March 2-3, 2017

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

mm – mm  Lihue, Kauai
mm – mm  Honolulu, Oahu
mm – mm  Molokai
mm – mm  Kahului AP, Maui
mm – mm  Kona Int’l AP
mm – mm  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

mm  Kauai
mm  Oahu
mm  Molokai
mm  Lanai
mm  Kahoolawe
mm  Maui
mm  Big Island

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

mm  Kauai
mm  Oahu
mm  Molokai
mm  Lanai
mm  Kahoolawe
mm  Maui
mm  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

The recent counter-clockwise rotating upper level low pressure system is moving away…while a new one is spinning into place far northwest of Hawaii

The clouds are clearing across the state…with a cold front evident northwest

Still some deep clouds in our vicinity…northeast of the state generally

Showers over the central islands…some locally quite generous – Looping radar image

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Expect a marked decrease in rainfall, as the various low pressure systems in our area…move steadily away tonight into Friday. The deepest moisture appears to have already shifted north and east of the area. However, a trailing band of moisture extending southward from the surface low, along with a humid southwesterly wind flow, will support scattered moderate showers tonight. A humid south to southeasterly flow will remain in place over the islands, which will prompt scattered showers to continue…although rainfall amounts should become lighter in general as we get into Friday. Volcanic haze (vog) will hang over Maui County and Oahu, as southeast winds continue to carry it over the central islands…remaining over the islands well into next week.

Looking ahead, the models agree on a weakening cold front moving into the islands over the weekend, and this should lead to an increase in shower activity…especially over Kauai and Oahu. Models show a deep, moist southwesterly kona wind flow, developing just west of the state Monday through next Wednesday. At least one model solution suggests more unsettled conditions, and would result in a showery weather pattern across much of the state. This is in contrast to another reliable model, which limits the deepest moisture across the Kauai and Oahu end of the chain. Given the differences in the model output, it would be wise to think in terms of keeping shower chances in mind statewide. We can revisit this outlook over the next day or two, which should lead to further clarification on where and how much rainfall we can expect then.

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: An east to west oriented surface ridge near the Big Island, will move north over the central portion of the island chain tonight, and remain in place through Friday. Winds will diminish in response, with light southeast to south winds near the Big Island, and light to moderate south to southwest winds near Kauai and Oahu. This high pressure ridge will recede to the east, as a cold front approaches Friday night. South winds will likely briefly increase near Kauai and Oahu, before diminishing as the weakening and stalling cold front moves over Kauai Saturday night. The weak front is expected to stall and gradually dissipate near Kauai and Oahu through Sunday, with light and variable winds prevailing into Monday…as the ridge migrates back over the area from the east.

Surf will be small through Saturday, although a somewhat unusual, small, wind swell will affect leeward facing shores. A west swell this weekend will likely lead to advisory level surf along exposed north and west facing shores, including the Kona Coast of the Big Island. This swell is expected to build late Saturday, peak Sunday, and gradually diminish through Monday. Another advisory level northwest swell is possible around the middle of next week.

 
Spotty heavy showers…diminishing Friday

Southern California Weather Summary: Another warm day Friday with temperatures rising into the 80’s in some areas, then a sharp cooling trend, with temperatures cooling 10-20 degrees during the weekend. This will happen as a trough of low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska, sends a weak cold front into the area Sunday. Moving into next week, high pressure and an offshore wind flow should redevelop…bringing a warming trend and gusty (Santa Ana) offshore winds by midweek.

Mostly clear across Southern California

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)