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

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

80 – 73  Lihue, Kauai
86 – 69  Honolulu, Oahu
86 – 67  Molokai
86 – 60  Kahului AP, Maui
85 – 74  Kona Int’l AP
83 – 64  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.50  N Wailua Ditch, Kauai
0.18  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.01  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.12  Kawainui Stream, Big Island

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

30  Port Allen, Kauai
35  Kuaokala, Oahu
37  Molokai
28  Lanai
36  Kahoolawe
42  Maalaea Bay, Maui
40  PTA Range 17, 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

Pacific storm track far north…high cirrus clouds south of Hawaii

Weak cold front well north

Clear to partly cloudy…a few cloudy areas

Showers locally – Looping radar image

Small Craft Advisory…coasts and channels statewide

High Surf Advisory…north and west shores of Oahu, Molokai, and north shore of Maui

High Surf Warning…north and west shores of Kauai, and west shores of the Big Island

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Broad brush overview: A ridge of high pressure north of the islands will keep trade winds blowing through late next week. A dry and stable atmosphere will keep showers limited, and confined to the windward slopes through early in the new week ahead. An increase in trade wind showers is then expected Tuesday night through later next week…as an upper level trough of low pressure edges over the island chain.

Details: A moderately strong high pressure system is located north of Hawaii, with another similar high located northeast. Between these two highs is a weakening, and nearly stationary cold front north of Kauai. Moderate to breezy trade winds have become established across the state, with a few observation sites edging up towards the wind advisory levels. Satellite and radar imagery show a relatively dry atmosphere over the islands, with clear to partly cloudy skies…in addition to a few windward showers here and there.

The high pressure areas north of the islands will consolidate into a single high well northeast of the state, keeping gusty trade winds in place across the islands. The locally strong trade winds are expected to continue through Sunday night, with the trade wind speeds then dropping off a notch early in the new week…as high pressure migrates away from Hawaii. A dry and stable airmass is expected to limit shower activity through the period. Showers will favor windward areas, primarily during the overnight and early morning hours.

Looking ahead: Models are in agreement showing high pressure remaining in place well northeast of the state, with a weakening cold front approaching from the northwest late in the week. Light to moderate trades are expected to prevail through this period, with some decrease in trade wind speeds possible by the end of the week. Aloft, a weaker upper level ridge is expected to move overhead beginning Thursday, and this should destabilize the atmosphere some. This, in combination with moisture carried in on the trades, should lead to an increase in trade wind showers across the islands.

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: Forerunners of the large west-northwest swell have been arriving at the buoy northwest of Kauai. Surf on Kauai is expected to build to warning levels during the day, then peak tonight into Sunday morning. Warning level surf should continue through the day Sunday, before gradually lowering Monday. The more westerly direction of the swell will likely cause Kauai to shadow the other smaller islands. The current forecast continues to hold surf for exposed north and west facing shores of Oahu and Maui County just under warning levels. Surf along west facing shores of the Big Island is also forecast to reach low end warning level tonight through Sunday night.

Otherwise, small south swells will continue this weekend into the new week, with a slightly larger south swell for Wednesday night through Friday. Another large west-northwest swell will be possible next Friday into the weekend.

The Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains posted for the typically windier waters around the Big Island and Maui County through Sunday night. High pressure strengthening northeast of the state will provide locally breezy conditions through the weekend. The SCA has been expanded to cover the most of the other coastal waters late this morning, and the remaining waters early this evening…as seas build due to the large incoming west-northwest swell.

Large surf along the north and west shores this weekend 

Southern California Weather Summary: There will be a few lingering showers mostly across the mountains today, with below normal temperatures. It will be mostly sunny Sunday with a few degrees of warming. On Monday a weak trough of low pressure will result in clouds a few light showers over San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Gusty northerly winds will set up Monday night and persist into Tuesday. Weak ridging aloft and northerly winds at the surface…will bring warm and dry conditions for the middle of next week.

Variable high and low level clouds

Clear to partly cloudy in general – 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)