May 11 – 12 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 81
Kaneohe, Oahu – 79
Kahului, Maui – 82
Hilo, Hawaii – 76
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 84

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

Kailua-kona- 74
Hilo, Hawaii – 63

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

1.01 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.88 MANOA LYON ARBORETUM, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.42 OHEO GULCH, MAUI
0.58 MOUNTAIN VIEW, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a high pressure system located far to NNE of the islands. The location and strength of this high pressure cell will keep moderately strong trade winds blowing Friday…gradually getting lighter into Saturday. 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

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Your sunset seat awaits you here in the islands



High pressure systems to the north and NE will keep the moderately strong trade winds blowing through Friday. These locally brisk trade winds will bring their cooling and refreshing relief from the warm to very warm afternoons along the leeward sides of the islands. Those more wind protected areas will find air temperatures ranging between the lower to upper 80F’s, which is starting to feel quite a bit like summer already. The wind exposed north and east facing shores will have cooler temperatures in general, but still adequately warm for comfort.

All of this trade wind activity will continue to carry a few showery clouds towards the windward coasts and slopes. The atmospheric dynamics aren’t such that we expect any flooding rainfall however, with just the usual passing showers, falling most generously during the night and early morning hours. The leeward sides will find no such showers, or at least just a few stray showers around the edges…remaining dry for the most part. The Kona slopes on the Big Island always has the chance for a few afternoon showers.

All of the above is fairly typical for this part of the month of May. We can look for favorably inclined weather conditions through Friday. As we move into the weekend time frame, the computer forecast models start showing an unseasonably deep low pressure system, which starts out to our north, and then slides over to our NE. The models go on to show an unusual frontal cloud band sinking southward from this low pressure system, which may get close to the Hawaiian Islands. This front is expected to wash out though, without bringing us any rainfall.

This low to the NE remains in place into the first half of next week. This isn’t anything to worry about though, as we will be on the dry side of its air circulation. We may see some slightly cool north or NW breezes wrapping into our area, although the islands will remain dry, and actually quite nice indeed through Wednesday. The models go on to show the return of the trade winds during the second half of the week, with just a normal late spring trade wind weather pattern prevailing…providing great weather for all outdoor activities through the rest of the week.

It’s early Thursday evening here in Kula, Maui. It’s a little bit more cloudy today than yesterday, although nothing seriously wrong with Thursday, at all! The clouds are a little more congregated along the windward sides today, with a nice little rainbow showing as I cruised up the Haleakala Highway past Pukalani. I could see some, what looked like, small drop showers falling towards Makawao town and Haiku. Today is the day, 25 years ago, that Bob Marley died of cancer. I was fortunate to see him play live at an outdoor arena in Honolulu way back in the late 1970’s. He was such da man, who inspired almost everyone who ever heard, or felt his Raggae music. National Public Radio did a special on him as I was driving home, and reminded me how much I still care for his soulful music. It’s strange how so many great young muscians have died too soon! I dedicate this commentary to Bob Marley, to the man, and his inspired music. There’s too many clouds around this evening to see the near full moon rising, although I’m sure it’s looking big and bright as it rises up in the eastern horizon. The offical full moon time, here in Hawaii is just before 9pm Friday evening. Spinning around in my chair, looking out towards the west, there’s an orange glow in the sky, with all of Kihei and Lahaina almost totally clear at near 7pm. I hope you have a great Thursday night! I’ll be back at the keyboard, to tap out your early Friday morning weather narrative from paradise…no doubt. Aloha for now…Glenn.

P.S. Here’s a link to one of the advertisers on the left hand margin: Maui Snorkel Tours Shoreline EcoVentures with Suzzy Robinson. Don’t just wonder what it is…Be informed and get involved! Snorkel the reefs of Maui in a safe, fun and unforgettable EcoVenture.