Weather Details and Aloha Paragraphs

August 25-26 2006

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

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

KAILUA-KONA – 78
MOLOKAI AIRPORT – 67

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:

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing high pressure located far to the north and NE of our islands. Meanwhile, there are several low pressure troughs, both aloft and at the surface, close to the islands…which will keep our wind speeds light today and Sunday. 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.

 

  Lots of good surfing waves breaking in Hawaii now!
Photo Credit: flikr.com

 

We have a very complex set of weather circumstances here in the islands now, although none of which is particularly threatening. Looking at the latest weather maps, we have lots of low pressure systems surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, both aloft and at the surface. These are what’s responsible for knocking our trade winds down, and replacing them with light and variable winds at the moment. This will keep rather sultry weather conditions in place through the weekend.

Even at this late date, the jury is still out on exactly what will happen weatherwise, as the next several days unfold.  There are many shower enhancing features in the mix, although it’s still difficult to know how they will interact with each other. This is certainly not your average August weather pattern, far from it as a matter of fact. From what I can see, there remains a good chance of localized showers continuing through the weekend here and there. The forecast problem remains where those will be heavy ones! At any rate, by the time we get into next week, weather will snap back to a more common trade wind weather pattern.

It’s early Friday evening as update this last paragraph of today’s narrative.  If you noticed a fair amount of uncertainty in the paragraphs above, you got that right! There is an unusual array of weather elements vying for our attention at the moment. I suppose the bottom line here is this: if everything comes together, as it looks likely to do, we could see spotty heavy showers off and on through the weekend. Then again, if they don’t, we would find variable clouds, less intense showers at times here and there…along with muggy light winded conditions in general. I’m personally leaning towards the localized heavier shower solution, with even the chance of a random thundershower. I got to the beach today, and found gorgeous conditions again, including very warm air, and pleasantly warm water. There were lots of good sized waves to bodysurf as well…which I took full advantage of by riding in towards shore on! I’ll be taking in another new film this evening, this time one called Idlewild…which is about a musical set in the Prohibition-era American South, where a speakeasy performer and his piano player contend with gangsters who have their eyes on the club.  I hope you have a great Friday wherever you happen to be spending it. I’ll be back early Saturday morning with the next updates. Aloha for now…Glenn.

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