Air Temperatures – The following high temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday…along with the low temperatures Thursday
80 – 68 Lihue, Kauai
85 – 70 Honolulu, Oahu
84 – 66 Molokai
85 – 67 Kahului AP, Maui
85 – 73 Kona Int’l AP
82 – 70 Hilo AP, Hawaii
Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of Thursday evening:
0.01 Lihue, Kauai
0.02 Manoa Lyon Arboretum, Oahu
0.12 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.32 Haiku, Maui
0.83 Nene Cabin, Big Island
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Thursday evening:
22 Port Allen, Kauai
20 Kahuku Trng, Oahu
23 Molokai
27 Lanai
32 Kahoolawe
28 Kahului AP, Maui
29 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
Storm low pressure systems…far northeast and northwest
Cold fronts are located well north…and far northwest
Clear to partly cloudy…with higher level clouds shifting eastward
Showers, mostly windward sides…especially Oahu and the Big Island
Looping radar image
Small Craft Advisory…windiest coasts and channels around Maui County and the Big Island
Flood Advisory…southeastern Big Island
~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~
Broad brush overview: We can look for trade wind weather through Friday, with most showers focused over the windward sides. The trades will increase later Friday…along with a slight increase in shower activity into the weekend. Meanwhile, a layer of high cirrus clouds, resulted in mostly cloudy skies Thursday. These cirrus are part of an upper level disturbance, with the back edge having cleared Kauai, Oahu and Maui County. It’s moving east and should clear the Big Island this evening.
Details: A high pressure system is centered far east-northeast of the state, with a second high pressure cell north…both of which are moving eastward. Satellite imagery shows low level clouds are being carried into the windward sides, at least locally. Some of these clouds are dropping light showers, especially over the eastern islands.
A cold front to the north of the islands will slide eastward, staying away from the islands. This however will help to push a high pressure ridge closer to the islands, causing our winds to become slightly lighter. High pressure will rebuild north of the area, resulting in strengthening trades this weekend. Meanwhile, the models show an upper level trough edging into the area northeast of the Big Island. If this occurs as expected, it could lead to an increase in trade showers…particularly along windward sides of the eastern islands.
Looking ahead: As we get into the middle of next week, a couple more cold fronts may be passing by to the north of the state, which could bring a few clouds and showers across the island chain. However, from this vantage point at least, most of the precipitation looks like it would stay well north of the state. At the same time, our winds may veer to the southeast…potentially carrying a bit of volcanic haze our way then as well.
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: A surface high is currently located far east northeast of the state, with a surface ridge trailing west to north of Kauai. As the high weakens tonight, so will the ridge. However, a new high will set up to the northeast and strengthen starting Friday afternoon and night. Winds are forecast to reach Small Craft Advisory (SCA) strength by Friday afternoon or Friday night for the typical windy areas around Maui County and the Big Island. Trade winds will strengthen further this weekend boosting wind speeds to moderate to locally strong over the coastal waters.
A strong low pressure system currently far northwest of Hawaii, will bring a very large west-northwest swell, that will build across the state Saturday and Saturday night. Surf along most north and west facing shores will peak at high end advisory or warning level heights. Surf will be the largest on Kauai, and slightly lower over the rest of the islands. Rough and choppy conditions will persist along east facing shores due to the strengthening trade winds this weekend.
Increasing trade wind speeds on the horizon
Southern California Weather Summary: Breezy northwest winds will continue tonight. A weak storm system will bring light rain to the area later Friday through Saturday. A low pressure system will delay warming and bring windy conditions Monday and Tuesday with an outside chance for showers. Warmer weather is likely by mid-week as high pressure builds in over the state.
Clear skies…until the next storm arrives later Friday into Saturday
Mostly clear – Looping radar
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)
>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean: No active tropical cyclones
>>> North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea:
Tropical Cyclone 12S (Caleb)
JTWC textual forecast
JTWC graphical track map
NOAA satellite Image
Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Interesting: World Meteorological Day celebrates importance of clouds for weather, climate and water – Clouds inspire art and thought, but few natural phenomena are as important to weather, climate or water, the United Nations meteorological agency today said, launching a digital cloud atlas to celebrate World Meteorological Day.
“If we want to forecast weather we have to understand clouds. If we want to model the climate system we have to understand clouds. And if we want to predict the availability of water resources, we have to understand clouds,” said said World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
World Meteorological Day commemorates the coming into force on 23 March 1950 of the convention establishing the WMO. This year’s theme is “Understanding Clouds.”
In conjunction with the Day, WMO today launched for the first time a primarily on-line digital edition of the International Cloud Atlas, which features hundreds of images and information about clouds, as well as meteorological marvels, such as rainbows and halos.
The new Atlas “combines 19th century traditions with 21st century technology,” the UN agency said, noting that the International Cloud Atlas was first published some 200 years ago.