February 26-27 2006

Air Temperatures — The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Sunday:

Lihue, Kauai – 76F
Honolulu, Oahu – 77
Kaneohe, Oahu – 74
Kahului, Maui – 78
Hilo, Hawaii – 73
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 82

Temperatures early Monday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 5 a.m. hour:

Lihue, Kauai – 71
Molokai airport – 68

Precipitation Totals — The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals during the last 24 hours (as of Monday morning) on each of the major islands, including:

6.60 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
2.29 NUUANU UPPER, OAHU
0.27 MOLOKAI
0.01 LANAI
0.05 KAHOOLAWE
3.88 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
1.44 HAKALAU, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart — Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a strong high pressure system far NNW of the islands. This high has an elongated ridge running from its center SE to just east and NE of the islands. At the same time we have a pair of lows, one far to the NE, and another to the NW, with light-moderate winds from the ridge squeezing through the lows. Here’s a Weather Map Symbol page for clarification about what all those funny weather symbols mean.

Hawaii’s Mountains — Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are only available during the daylight hours here in the islands…that is unless there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two!

Satellite Images — To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with the Infrared Satellite Imageof the islands to see all the clouds around the state. This next satellite image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible satellite image. The next satellite image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean…out from the islands. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest radar image.

Aloha Paragraphs


Humpback whale breaching

The Hawaiian Islands will see increasing high cirrus clouds Sunday into the new week ahead. The latest weather maps show the islands still positioned between low pressure centers to our NE and NW. At the same time, we find a strong high pressure system located far to the NW of Hawaii. This pressure configuration will provide mostly light trade winds for the time being, before turning SE with time in a couple of days.

We’ll see variably cloudy weather, with a few passing showers along our windward coasts and slopes. The leeward sides could see a few showery clouds too, although nothing too exagerrated yet. Those south and west facing coasts will continue to see fairly nice weather conditions, albeit it getting cloudier this weekend into the new week ahead. The warmest beaches in those areas will see air temperatures rising into the lower 80F’s…which isn’t too bad for winter!


The computer forecast models show gradually cloudier skies developing into the future. As we move into the new week ahead, things begin to look more unsettled.  They suggest that a rather prolonged, and at times widespread rainy period will start by Tuesday, continuing off and on for several days thereafter…accompanied by gusty SE or south Kona winds. The most likely time for the heaviest showers would be in the later Tuesday into Wednesday or Thursday time frame.


The current weather outlook is a complex one. It certainly doesn’t help much that the computer forecast models have had a loose grasp of what’s happening, and have been changing their tune on a regular basis lately! At any rate, it still looks like next week will be cloudier than usual, with wetter than normal conditions at times too. The winds will be blowing from an unusual SE direction, which could bring gusty winds and some volcanic haze to the islands as well. I should say that the new week won’t be a total wash, as whatever showers that fall will likely be hit and miss, and off and on in character.  

It’s early Sunday evening here in Kula, Maui. Let me start off by saying that it was a cloudy day here in the islands. As a matter of fact, at the moment, it’s totally foggy and drizzling. It was a great day, starting off with a kayaking trip over to the Olowalu area of west Maui. I went with my regular kayaking partner, and we met a friend there. The three of us paddled out, way out there actually. We sat out in what we thought was going to be the path of humpback whales. We did see a few, although not as close up as we had hoped. The main event however was the gusty winds that came blowing out of the Olowalu Valley, which is an extention of the Iao Valley. The wind got strong enough that it slightly freaked me out, with white caps, and lots of hard paddling in towards shore. It took I’d say a good hour to make it to shore, and with a good amount of relief I might add! We met another couple of people on the beach, and we ended up having a little shared picnic for a while. I went to Paia for some shopping after that, then went by to see a friend in Haiku, who wasn’t home, and then finally back here to Kula. My muscles, after surfing yesterday, and then all that paddling today, are letting me know they’ve been doing something. I have enjoyed sipping on some Pinot Noir late this afternoon, along with reading and talking on the phone to friends on the mainland. I’ll go down soon and cook some dinner, then go to bed early tonight, try and recouperate some of my energy before the full-on work week starts at 4am Monday morning. I hope you have a great Sunday night! Aloha for now…Glenn.