August 5-6 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 83F
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 84
Kahului, Maui – 82
Hilo, Hawaii – 85
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 86

Temperatures early Sunday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 5 a.m. hour:

HONOLULU, OAHU – 78
HILO AIRPORT – 70


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

 
1.17 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.33 NUUANU UPPER, OAHU
0.01 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.97 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
1.23 WAIAKEA UKA, BIG ISLAND
 

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a moderately strong 1030 millibar high pressure system located far to the NNE of our islands. This high pressure center, with its associated ridge, will keep blustery trade winds blowing across our area Sunday. As the high pressure cell moves SW, it will weaken some, allowing our trade winds to get a little softer on Monday. Here’s a Weather Map Symbol page for clarification about what all those weather symbols mean on the map.

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 (where Hawaii is) runs from June 1 through November 30. The latest storm information for the eastern Pacific can be found by clicking here. A storm tracking map for both the central and eastern areas can be found by clicking here . For the central Pacific, the latest storm information can be found by clicking here
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Aloha Paragraphs


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 A day in Paradise…Maui, Hawaii
Photo Credit: flikr.com
 

The trade winds will remain stronger than normal this weekend. This is thanks to a steep pressure gradient across the islands, between a high pressure system to our NNE, and low pressure located to our south. This blustery reality will remain in place through Sunday. As usual, the early mornings are the least windy, which makes the beaches most user friendly then.  The later mornings through the afternoons will find lots of white caps on the ocean, and the coconut palm fronds bent over away from these very breezy trade winds.

The overlying atmosphere has been dry the last several days in most areas. This dry reality will take a turn back towards normal, or a bit more than that, as we move through into Sunday. The most numerous showers will fall along the windward coasts and slopes. The leeward sides will remain dry, although the gusty trade winds may carry some showers over there locally too. The leftover moisture from former tropical cyclone Fabio will more than likely bring an increase in showers to the Big Island, and Maui too…arriving late Saturday into Sunday.


It’s early Saturday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this sunset commentary.  I had a nice surf session at a break called Puamana, just outside Lahaina town. I caught lots of mostly small waves, and with the ocean smooth, it was a soul soothing experience. I drove into Lahaina town proper afterwards, just to see if it was still mellow, and sure enough, it offered me a slow drive through.  From there, it was the cruise over to Paia, walking along Baldwin Avenue in light passing showers. I needed a few more things at Down to Earth in Makawao, and then it was onto the Pukalani Superette for a fresh block of Ahi Sashimi. I’m trying out a new ale, this time its an Inversion India Pale Ale, which says on the label: "soft caramel malt notes, and NW hops…leaving a bright, sunny citrus finish. The sun is shining in the window ahead of me, which is a reflection of the sunset behind me, leaving me really wanting to get out there and be with those last warm sun rays of the day, know what I mean? Kden, out onto the weather deck.  I’ll be here again Sunday morning. Aloha…Glenn.