Air Temperatures – The following high temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Friday…along with the low temperatures Friday:
82 – 73 Lihue, Kauai
85 – 73 Honolulu, Oahu
85 – 71 Molokai
89 – 72 Kahului AP, Maui
83 – 70 Kona Int’l AP
82 – 68 Hilo AP, Hawaii
Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of Friday evening:
0.03 Lihue, Kauai
0.01 Palisades, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.00 Maui
0.03 Waiakea Experimental Station, Big Island
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Friday evening:
21 Port Allen, Kauai
20 Kahuku Trng, Oahu
25 Molokai
24 Lanai
36 Kahoolawe
21 Maalaea Bay, Maui
25 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 deep low pressure system far north…with a trailing cold front
A weak cold front north of the islands
Some cloudy periods, especially during the afternoons…with volcanic haze
A few showers – Looping radar image
~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~
Broad brush overview: The trades are weakening and shifting to the southeast, prompting afternoon sea breezes and nighttime land breezes through the weekend. Volcanic haze (vog) is spreading across parts of the island chain as we end the work week. A wetter trade wind weather pattern will likely return to the Aloha State next week.
Details: The high pressure system to our north will move rapidly eastward, as a cold front approaches from the west. The front is causing the winds to weaken and shift to the southeast. These lighter winds will bring warm and muggy conditions, with alternating local afternoon sea breeze circulations, followed by local nighttime land breeze circulations. Low clouds will develop over interior and leeward sections of many of the islands each afternoon. Rain chances will remain limited, due to limited moisture sources…and continuing stable conditions.
The cold front stall will stall and weaken just northwest of Kauai Monday night. The pressure gradient will slowly tighten across the region, as a new surface high pressure system builds to the north of the remnant frontal boundary. As a result, trade winds will gradually strengthen Monday and Tuesday, transporting some of the moisture associated with the remnant frontal feature…back toward the state.
Looking ahead: The breezy trades, and an elevated inversion caused by an upper trough low pressure system will likely result in some of the showers carrying over to leeward sections of the islands. Rainfall maximums will occur during the nighttime hours. Overall, it looks to be a wet trade wind weather pattern for the first half of next week.
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: Locally strong trade winds will continue tonight in the typically windy waters around Maui and the Big Island. A small craft advisory (SCA) is in effect for these zones through early Saturday morning. This episode is expected to be short-lived, due to a surface ridge moving southeast, nearing Kauai this weekend, weakening the trade winds through the end of the weekend. Trades will increase once again Monday…likely requiring another SCA.
A series of small to moderate northwest and north swells will move across our waters during the next week. The best candidate for enhanced surf should arrive Tuesday night. However, none of these swells are expected to produce advisory level surf.
Winds turning lighter…bringing vog and increased humidity
Southern California Weather Summary: Rain will continue to slowly shift southward across Southern California before exiting the region Saturday afternoon. Locally gusty northerly winds are possible with gradual warming through Monday…behind the departing trough of low pressure. Rain and cooler conditions may return later next week.
Increasing clouds over Southern California
Partly to mostly cloudy skies
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
Tropical Cyclone 16P is now active, here’s the graphical track map
>>> North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea:
Tropical Cyclone 15S (Ernie) remains active, here’s the graphical track map, and a satellite image
Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Interesting: How Changes in Rainfall Impact the World Economy – An afternoon rainstorm might seem like an inconvenience at times, but rainfall is an essential part of the world ecosystem. Most of us know this.
But did you know that rainfall also inadvertently affects the economy, too?
Climate change is altering the global rainfall patterns, leaving industries around the world scrambling to adapt to these changes. How will the changes in the rainfall patterns affect the global economy?
Damaging weather patterns
We’ve seen changing weather patterns cause millions of dollars in home and business damage just over the past year. The drought in California, for example, which spurred unprecedented water restrictions across the state, ended with massive amounts of rain that caused extensive flooding. In one case, the deluge of water nearly compromised the Oroville Dam, sparking the emergency evacuation of more than 180,000 people.
The dams themselves aren’t built for this kind of extreme weather change, which will likely become a problem in the future. Scientists believe that these extreme drought-flood cycles will likely continue.
On the other side of the spectrum are storms. Places like Louisiana, which is known for its hurricanes, are being slammed with tornadoes. While it is difficult to pin the blame directly on climate change, many scientists believe that these aggressive weather trends are both tied to climate change and will continue to get worse as the planet continues to warm.
Property damage costs, as well as the cost of repair and reinforcement, will likely become a huge factor in the coming decades. While this can be beneficial for certain sections of the economy, it could slowly decimate the spending capability of the private sector, as well as drive up insurance prices in affected areas. These fluctuations mean protecting a home or business from unpredictable weather patterns is more difficult that it has been in previous years, and it will likely continue to get more difficult as the climate changes.
Impacts on agriculture
Much of the farming industry the United States relies on irrigation. The United States Geological Survey estimates 61 million acres are irrigated per year, using upwards of 128,000 gallons of water every single day. These numbers have dropped in recent years, with the introduction of more water-efficient irrigation systems.
Outside the United States, a good majority of organized agriculture relies on rainfall to sustain their crops. Around 60 percent of crops in developing countries would not survive without regular rainfall.
Climate change could result in one of two possibilities for these rain-fed areas — either there will be too much rain, and damaging storms will ruin the crops, or there will be too little rain, leaving the plants starved for water and farmers scrambling to find irrigation alternatives. Either way, climate change has the potential to negatively affect economies and make it more difficult for farms to produce food.
Changing ecosystems
Ecosystems tend to change slowly, allowing the plants and animals to gradually adapt to the new environment. The changes we are observing in our global climate, however, are occurring faster than flora and fauna can adapt to, causing many of them to change their feeding and breeding patterns, move to new areas or even die out.
A study completed in 2015 found that one out of every six species is facing extinction due to climate change. This reduces the stability of local ecosystems, and if those ecosystems collapse, it could potentially devastate our ability to produce food, decimating the global economy. Take bees, for example — they are one of the most prolific pollinators for the majority of our fruits and vegetables and if they go extinct, so too does the majority of our food production ability. This year, they were added to the endangered species list.
It is no longer a theory. Climate change is happening, and it will affect the way we interact with the world around us. It will also have significant impacts on the global economy unless we do something to reduce its influence. Storm damage will make it too costly to build or rebuild in a variety of areas around the country, and collapsing ecosystems will make it impossible to grow food.
Even if you’re not as worried about the economic impact of climate change, consider this: If we destroy this planet, we’ve got nowhere else to go.
Eliza Says:
Aloha Glenn –
Another lack of tradewinds day here. Beautiful skies and dry dry grasses. We really need some decent rains. Any headed our way? Trust all is going well with you and your mom’s recovery. Aloha oe – Eliza
~~~ Hi Eliza, no trade winds and no rain, that’s doesn’t sound very comfortable. I’m afraid I don’t see any significant rainfall heading our way. We will be pushing into El Nino, which typically brings relatively dry weather, and more tropical cyclones.
The models are trying to conjure up some windward shower activity during the first part of next week…lets keep our fingers crossed.
Thanks for your well wishes!
Aloha, Glenn
Douglas Says:
Aloha Glen
I hope things are continuing to improve for you both. We are back in Kapalua after a long absence to a chilly reception , as it’s only 71 degrees at 7 am with a low, leaden overcast sky.
Fantastic!
It’s good to be home.
Douglas
~~~ Hi Douglas, thanks for your well wishes for my Mom and I.
It’s that time of year, when there will be a little leftover later winter…giving way to early summer-like conditions. Although, I’m sure overall, you will enjoy it very much!
Wishing you a great vacation this time around!
Aloha, Glenn