May 12 – 13 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 81F
Honolulu, Oahu – 83
Kaneohe, Oahu – 79
Kahului, Maui – 82
Hilo, Hawaii – 74
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83

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

Honolulu, Oahu – 73
Hilo, Hawaii – 64

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

1.02 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.53 WAIHEE PUMP, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.13 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
1.19 HILO AIRPORT, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing high pressure systems located far to north and NE of the islands. The location and strength of these high pressure cells will keep light to moderately strong trade winds blowing Saturday and Sunday. 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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Full moon Friday night


The latest weather map shows high pressure systems far to the NNW and NE of the Hawaiian Islands. The strength and placement of these high pressure cells will keep the trade winds blowing today into the weekend. A developing low pressure system to the north may diminish the trade breezes to some extent this weekend, although the latest computer forecast model output now suggests that the trade winds will hang in there, blowing in the moderately strong category. They go on to show that the trade winds will now wait until Tuesday to weaken over our area.

Meanwhile, a low pressure system will develop to the north and NE of the state of Hawaii over the next several days. As the low becomes most deep, and closest to our area, is when the winds will be lightest early next week. These light wind conditions will cause afternoon cloud buildups over the interior sections, with showers falling locally. The models then go on to show a very late season cold front being pushed down into the state on Wednesday, bringing some additional showers into the state, probably most notably along the windward sides.

As we move into the middle of next week, we’ll find a new high pressure system, the one that helps to push the cold front down into the state, moving into place NW of the islands. By the way, the arrival of next week’s cold front goes against the grain of the climatological norm. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see the models back down on the arrival of this unseasonably late frontal passage. At any rate, as this new high pressure swings into position, we’ll see the return of the trade winds by Thursday, with likely favorably inclined weather conditions sticking around through the remainder of next week.

It’s early Friday evening here in Kihei, Maui. I just finished another week of work, and must admit am relieved to have a couple of days of free time staring me in the face! The May full moon will be staring down on us tonight, and through the weekend as well. The trade winds are still the primary weather feature here in the islands, which continues to bring us lots of mostly sunny weather during the days. I’m torn between heading up the mountain to my favorite skateboarding road, and going to Borders Books, and then to a film after that. I may have to flip a coin to help me decide, which I do every once in a while. I could use the exercise, so I may be leaning in that direction at the moment, and then again, I’m a little lazy by the same token! I’ll decide soon, but before I do that, I’ll wish you a very pleasant Friday night. I’ll be back here early Saturday with the next narrative updates. Aloha for now…Glenn.

P.S. Here’s a link to one of the advertisers on the left hand margin: Dozzizart – Maui Artist, Michael Nardozzi. Very interesting ocean related art pieces!