Weather Details and Aloha Paragraphs

August 26-27 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 82F
Honolulu, Oahu – 84
Kaneohe, Oahu – 89
Kahului, Maui – 90
Hilo, Hawaii – 84
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 87

KAILUA-KONA – 79
LIHUE 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:

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, with gradually returning trade winds later 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.

 

  Beautiful Hawaii
Photo Credit: flikr.com

  Axis Deer

The latest weather maps and satellite images show an unusual amount of low pressure systems converging over and around the Hawaiian Islands this weekend. These are directly 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 Sunday into Monday, with a good chance that there will be outbreaks of showers at times…some of which will likely be locally quite heavy.

Our overlying atmosphere remains unstable, and will remain that way Sunday.  This simply means that whatever clouds that form over the islands will be more shower prone than usual. Daytime heating will be the triggering mechanism for many of these developing cumulus clouds, especially over and around the mountains during the afternoon hours. Some of these may very well grow into cumulonimbus clouds here and there…with their associated lightning and thunder. Showers will be hit and miss Saturday, but could become somewhat more widespread on Sunday.

The light winds, and ample tropical moisture that is around now, will make for sultry conditions for a couple of days.  The trade winds usually keep these muggy conditions at bay during the summer months. Before anyone gets too hot and sweaty, know that our cooling and refreshing trade winds will return soon. We expect them to come filling back into our Hawaiian Island weather picture already by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. As a matter of fact, the new week ahead looks to be a normal one for this time of year, with pleasant late summer weather prevailing.

It’s early Saturday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I start writing this pre-sunset commentary. I got up early this morning and left for a surfing session on the Lahaina side at about 545pm. I had just left my house, with my surfboard atop the car, when I came around a corner and saw a deer in the road, yes we have deer on Maui…although they are much smaller than what you see on the mainland! This was a full size Axis deer, and of course I slowed down, as it walked right in front of my car. That was kind of a cool way to start the day off I’d say. I got over to a spot called 1000 peaks, one of my favorite surfing areas, and it looked really good. It’s a long paddle out, but well worth the effort. The conditions were perfect, with head high waves breaking. I surfed as well as I have in quite some time, as the waves were really nice, really nice! I was out there in that warm Pacific for a little over two hours, at which point it got too crowded, so I paddled in. I was so stoked to have ridden so many good waves, and am still riding them this evening, at least in my mind’s eye! I’ll be leaving again super early on Sunday morning for more surfboard riding, oh yeah! I hope you had a good Saturday, I’ll be back again very early Sunday morning with the next narrative update, before I leave for the west side. By the way, there should be an excellent sunset this evening, as there’s lots of high cirrus clouds streaming overhead. Aloha for now…Glenn.

I want to highlight another of the great advertisers on my website today, this time it’s Mark Jackson – Realtor. "I have lived on Maui since 1974 and have been in the Real Estate business here on the island since 1988. I specialize in the West Maui Resort areas of Lahaina, Kaanapali, Napili and Kapalua, although I am able to represent you in all areas of Maui as well as the State of Hawaii."