March 7-8 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 78F
Honolulu, Oahu – 81
Kaneohe, Oahu – 77
Kahului, Maui – 85
Hilo, Hawaii – 79
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 81

Temperatures early Wednesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:

Kailua-kona – 73
Kahului airport – 67

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

1.35 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
2.81 POAMOHO 2, OAHU
0.02 MOLOKAI
0.01 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.83 KAUPO GAP, MAUI
4.30 LAUPAHOEHOE, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart — Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1033 millibar high pressure system to the NE of the islands. At the same time, we find a developing storm low to the NW of the islands. The interaction between these two weather features will keep SE winds blowing across our area today and Thursday. 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 animated radar image.

            Aloha Paragraphs



Rainbows offshore from Maui

There’s been essentially no change in the weather outlook for the islands since yesterday. The weather will remain pleasantly warm, with a late winter trade wind pattern in place for now. The windward sides of the islands will continue to see off and on showers arriving, which are common when the trades are in force. The leeward sides will find partly sunny weather during the days, along with warm temperatures for all outdoor activities. A high pressure system to our NE will keep the trade winds blowing Tuesday.

The computer forecast models continue to show changes occurring right after Wednesday. As a matter of fact, there seems to be some close similarities between what’s coming up…and what happened last week on Kauai and Oahu. Last week’s weather was wet on those two islands, and we may see another round of heavy showers arriving there by Thursday into Friday. It’s still a little too early for exact details, although it looks like the second half of the work week will be showery for at least Kauai, and perhaps Oahu again too.

As was the case last week, the eastern islands of Maui and the Big Island should remain on the dry side of this deep moisture to the west. Current satellite imagery and weather maps show a trough of low pressure to the west of kauai now. As this trough edges closer after Wednesday, the chances of rain will increase first for Kauai, and then perhaps for Oahu Friday. As I mentioned in the above paragraph, the particulars with this forecast will have to be fine tuned as we move through the next couple of days. It looks from here like the weekend may turn out to be just fine though.

As far as the winds go, the trade winds will prevail through Tuesday. As the trough of low pressure moves closer to Hawaii, our winds will gradually swing around to the SE. This will likely bring more volcanic haze to some parts of the state, and in particular around Kona, and then on up to the islands of Maui County. At the same time, SE winds bring warmer air into the state as well, so we could see another record high temperature at the Kahului airport, like last week’s 88F degree readings for two straight days!

It’s early Tuesday evening here in Kula, Maui. The first thing I noticed when I walked out of the air conditioned office where I work in Kihei, was how pleasantly warm the air was at around 530pm. I stood around by my car for a few moments, and basked in the 80F degree temperature. It’s so desert-like along the south coast of Maui, that is outside the irrigated areas, where it’s lush and green. It didn’t take me long to notice all the dark clouds hugging the Haleakala Crater though. As I was driving home I saw lots of showers falling along the windward sides, especially up above Makawao, in the Piiholo and Olinda areas. There were several beautiful rainbows shining brightly, which captured my attention, as they do everyones I’m sure. I’m home now, having just come in from watching the sun set into a cloud bank out west, looking down towards the ocean. It’s a great place to live, here in the wonderful state of Hawaii! I hope you have a peaceful Tuesday night, and can join me here again on Wednesday, for the next completely updated weather narrative. Aloha for now…Glenn. 

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