April 24-25 2006

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Monday:

Lihue, Kauai – 78F
Honolulu, Oahu – 82
Kaneohe, Oahu – 78
Kahului, Maui – 85
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 84

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

Kailua-kona – 73
Molokai airport – 69

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

1.40 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.50 KAWAILOA, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.97 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.75 LAUPAHOEHOE, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1033 millibar high pressure systems far to the NE and NE of Hawaii. At the same time we find a cold front to the NW. This pressure configuration will keep light to moderate trade winds blowing today…gradually getting lighter through Wednesday. 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 available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon cloud conditions.

Satellite Images – To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with the Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around the state during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next 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

Napali Coast of Kauai
Photo: Douglas Peebles

The trade winds continue to have a strong hold in the Hawaiian Island weather picture as we begin this new work week. The latest weather maps show high pressure systems located to the NNE and NE of the Aloha state. The strength and location of these trade wind producing high pressure cells will keep light to moderately strong winds blowing across our latitudes of the north central Pacific. There is still a small craft wind advisory in place for those windiest areas around Maui and the Big Island. The computer forecast models show a trough of low pressure moving by to our north later this week, with a lighter version of the trade winds then.

As is common during a trade wind weather pattern, showers will tend to congregate along the windward coasts and slopes. There don’t appear to be any rainfall enhancing weather elements on our horizon at this time though. Thus, just the usual passing showers at times along those north and east facing areas. The night and morning hours will find the most generous shower activity, although a few will arrive during the days at times too. Meanwhile, the south and west facing leeward sections will remain dry and quite sunny. The latest satellite pictures don’t show very much high cloudiness Monday, which means that the resort areas will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy.

I wish you could see what I’m seeing out the window of my weather tower this morning, it’s just wonderful! There’s a crescent moon rising over the summit of the Haleakala Crater, with one of the planets situated just above it…really close! It’s quite a beautiful and unusual configuration. If I crane my neck a little, I can see the very first hint of morning light too. I just was looking at the webcams atop the Haleakala Crater, and Mauna Kea on the Big Island. They are a great way to watch the sunrise happening here in the islands. You can see stars during the night, and the summits during the days. By the way, there’s still snow atop the near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea summit on the Big Island.

It’s early Monday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I start this evening’s sunset commentary. It’s that time of year, when one day looks very similar to the previous day, day after day. There aren’t nearly as many cirrus clouds today, not like yesterday’s incredible display of orange and pink colors. Those same low clouds are still hugging the windward sides, where misty showers are falling…what else is new? The beach was wonderful today, as the ocean is starting warm up a bit, while the air temperatures are going all the way up into the upper 80F’s each afternoon in Kihei and Lahaina. The underwater visibilities, at least where aren’t waves breaking, is very clear. All of those elements coming together, are making for some special days at the coasts. The winds in Kihei this afternoon, at least while I was there during my lunch break, were near calm…which adds to the pleasure of being near the ocean. The sun just went down, and what thin cirrus clouds that are out to the west, are lighting up a bright orange. I will be mentioning for the next several days, that I’m flying to California this Saturday morning, to visit my family for an extended weekend. We are fortunate to have Hans Rosendal stepping in during my absence, who will give expert weather analysis while I’m away. I hope you have a great Monday night! I’ll be back early Tuesday morning with the next weather narrative from here in paradise. Aloha for now…Glenn.


p.s. Here’s a link to one of the advertisers on the left hand margin: Jim Sanders Realty…Maui’s premiere real estate presented by Billy Jalbert, whose website says: “Whether your ideal lifestyle is surfing, kiteboarding or windsurfing on the North Shore near Paia and Haiku, enjoying calm beaches, exclusive golf courses and resorts in Wailea and Kihei, resort style living near Kapalua and Lahaina, or casual Upcountry living in Makawao or Kula, we specialize in finding the ideal real estate that best fits your dreams of a new lifestyle.”