Weather Details and Aloha Paragraphs

September 13-14 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 83F
Honolulu, Oahu – 88
Kaneohe, Oahu – 85
Kahului, Maui – 89
Hilo, Hawaii – 83
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 86

KAILUA-KONA – 77
KAHULUI AIRPORT – 70

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

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1030 millibar high pressure center located to the NE of our islands Thursday. At the same time, there’s a deep storm far to the NNW of the islands. This low, with its early season cold front, has pushed our trade wind generating ridge close to the islands. The winds will be light trade winds again later today into Friday.  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.

 

Another beautiful sunset in the islands
Photo Credit: flikr.com

The trade winds will begin to filter back into the Hawaiian Island weather picture today. A high pressure ridge is still quite close to Kauai, forced southward by an early season storm to the NNW of Hawaii. As this storm gradually moves northward, our ridge will migrate slowly northward in its wake. This in turn will allow the return of light trade winds, which will continue through Saturday. The latest models show the ridge moving even further north by Sunday, with the trade wind speeds picking up a notch or two then into early next week.

The overlying atmosphere remains on the dry side, with very few showers around now. The windward sides will see a few showers falling at times, although nothing heavy is indicated. The leeward sides in contrast will likely remain dry as a bone through the week. As the winds are picking up a tad now, we may see a minor increase in showers along those windward coasts and slopes…but nothing much. The Kona slopes on the Big Island, and perhaps the Haleakala slopes on Maui may see a few drops falling during the afternoon hours, but again not much is expected.

It’s early Wednesday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I start writing this sunset commentary.  Driving home this evening from Kihei, I realized just how much of a water person that I am. I go in the ocean almost everyday, and as I drive up the mountain towards Kula each day…I look forward to getting closer to the cloudiness on the slopes of the Haleakala Crater. Those days that the clouds are low enough, that its foggy at my place, are my favorites. I just love being in moist places I guess! This evening, the clouds are too far up the mountain from here for fog, I can see them hanging in the tree tops up above. Speaking of water, in all its manifestations, the ocean today was so great. It was warm, near 80F degrees in fact, and with the air temperature hovering around 88F while I was there…it offered the maximum pleasure to this Maui weatherman! I’m about ready to go down and make my Ahi fish tacos soon, which will be tasty, and easy to make. Just heat up a sprouted wheat tortilla, melt some cheese, lay the fish in there, top that with salsa, and a ton of fresh salad, and I’m eatin’. I hope you have not only a good meal, but also a great Wednesday night too. I’ll be back here dark and early Thursday morning with your next new narrative from paradise. Aloha for now…Glenn.

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