June 13-14 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 85F
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 83
Kahului, Maui – 87
Hilo, Hawaii – 84
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 84

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

Honolulu, Oahu – 76
Hilo airport – 70

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

0.11 MOUNT WAIALEALE. KAUAI
0.16 MANOA LYON ARBORETUM, OAHU
0.03 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.22 HAIKU, MAUI
0.23 PAHOA, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1028 millibar high pressure system located to the NE of our islands. This high pressure cell has a ridge SW to the north and NW of Hawaii, keeping our local trade wind speeds in the moderately strong category Wednesday and Thursday…locally strong and gusty during the afternoon hours. 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.

Tropical Cyclone Activity – The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30…while the central Pacific runs from June 1 through November 30. The latest storm information for eastern Pacific can be found by clicking here. A storm tracking map can be found by clicking here. For the central Pacific, the latest information can be found by clicking here.

Aloha Paragraphs

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Tropical rainforest setting, with stream in Hawaii
Photo Credit: flikr

Moderately strong trade winds and rather dry weather will continue for the time being here in the islands. There’s no doubt that the trade winds will prevail, that’s for sure. The dry weather will be most noticeable along the south and west facing leeward coasts. I doubt very much whether there will be much more than a few stray showers flying over from the windward sides there, with many leeward beaches remaining completely dry into the foreseeable future. Those windward sides, which have been drier than normal for the last couple of weeks, will start receiving some increase in passing showers now.

Satellite images show some slightly more showery clouds upstream of the islands. There’s a decent chance that we’ll see some of these splashing a few showers along those north and east facing coasts and slopes soon. One particular band of clouds may focus showers along those windward sides starting Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The lush tropical vegetation along those slopes has been dry lately, and could use a bit of watering. This certainly isn’t going to be anything heavy, but with the trade winds getting stronger soon, they will be somewhat more active for a day or so…with another possible increase in windward showers later in the week.

Speaking of the trade wind speeds, a high pressure system to the NE of Hawaii will keep moderately strong, 10-25 mph trade winds alive Tuesday. Weather maps and computer forecast models want to strengthen this high pressure area starting Wednesday. We have no marine warnings or advisories active at the moment, although we may see a small craft advisory flag rising for stronger trade winds Wednesday. These stronger gusts of winds will focus their efforts most effectively around the islands of Maui and the Big Island. Those same weather models suggest that the trade winds will relax again as we move into the weekend time frame.

It’s early Tuesday evening here in Kula, Maui, with the late day sunshine streaming into my weather tower. It was another great day here in the latitudes of the Hawaiian Islands. The trade winds have definitely become the dominant weather feature now, with some of the windiest spots around the state reaching into the upper 30 mph range, with one location topping out at 42 mph. We will be seeing nothing but more trade winds well out into the future. A normal June would find the trade winds blowing about 91% of the time, which should be lived up to this month. Strong winds are blowing at the summit levels of the mountains on the Big Island, just to show you how deep the current trade wind flow is…reaching 50 mph at times. The palm trees will be swaying, the ocean will be white capped and choppy during the afternoons, so it would be wise to hit the beach, if that’s your thing, as early in the mornings as possible through the next several days. These balmy breezes won’t be a problem, but will certainly be felt now. The sunset just happened, a rather quick one actually, but any sunset on Maui is a special one, lets face it! I hope you have a great Tuesday night, and that you will join me here again on Wednesday for the next new weather narrative from paradise. Aloha for now…Glenn.


I’m keeping the advertising links section open for a little while longer. Many of the current businesses (on the left hand margin of all pages on this website) are choosing to continue, although a couple have dropped out for this next three month period…replaced by new businesses. The cost of placing a hot link to your business is $50 per month, with a three month minimum. This keeps your link highlighted (on all pages) for three months at just $150. There are a few available slots available now. Please let me know of your interest by emailing me, or replying in the box below. I can put a link to your business the very same day you let me know you want it. Thanks…Glenn.