December 2006
Monthly Archive
Posted by Glenn
1 Comment
December 14-15 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Thursday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 83
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Kahului, Maui – 84
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 82
Temperatures early Friday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Honolulu – 75F
Hilo, Hawaii – 68F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Friday morning:
0.96 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.28 OAHU FOREST NWR, OAHU
0.01 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.41 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.78 LAUPAHOEHOE, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a very strong 1040 millibar high pressure system north of the Hawaiian Islands Friday. This high pressure cell will keep locally strong and gusty trade winds blowing now. As the high pressure cell moves further east it will weaken some, so that winds will gradually decrease Saturday. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
Waikiki and Town
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
A robust high pressure system has moved into the area NW of Hawaii, and will be the source of blustery trade winds for the next several days. These trade winds will increase, becoming strong and gusty Thursday through Saturday, then calm down some later in the upcoming weekend into early next week. Winds at the peak of this episode, today through Saturday, will top 30 mph regularly, with gusts to 40+ mph in those windiest locations in the southern part of the state. The upper summits of the mountains could easily have 50+ mph gusts. We have a small craft advisory active across all the Hawaiian coastal and channel waters Thursday morning…which will remain active into Saturday. Recently, a gale warning went into effect for the Alenuihaha Channel between Maui the Big Island, and the waters south of the Big Island. Finally, a wind advisory has been issued for winds gusting above 50 mph from 6am Friday until 6pm Friday.
Despite this new surging trade wind flow, our overlying atmosphere remains
quite stable and dry. This in turn suggests that there won’t be any significant increase in showers. The windward sides of the islands will be where most of whatever showers that are around…do end up. A few stray showers may be carried over to the leeward sides by the gusty winds…especially on the smaller islands. The presence of an upper level trough of low pressure this weekend may trigger an increase in windward showers then. Looking further ahead, the trade winds will be lighter next week, with not much change in the shower activity. In other words, generally good weather persisting next week.
It’s early Thursday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this sunset commentary. It got windy here in the islands today as expected, although not everywhere in equal measure. The winds were from a more or less easterly direction, so that the windward sides took the brunt of the strengthening trade flow. At least here on Maui, it was much less windy over in the Lahaina and Kihei areas. The top gust that I saw today was 51 mph at South Point on the Big Island, which is pretty major in my estimation! The full force of this windy period will likely occur Friday, at which point the trade wind producing high pressure system, which is causing all this gustiness, will be moving by at its closest point to our north. The ocean surrounding all the islands is chalked-up with white caps, and rough surf will now start to roll into the east facing beaches. As I was driving up the mountain a little while ago, I could see what looked like misty clouds banked up against the windward slopes, over in the upper Haiku and Makawao areas…although I’m not expecting those light showers to get too out of hand. I hope you have a good Thursday night wherever you happen to be spending it. I’ll have your next narrative ready for you here at approximately 530am (Hawaiian time) Friday, which is 730am on the west coast, and 1030am on the east coast. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Posted by Glenn
1 Comment
December 13-14 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Wednesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 83
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 83
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83
Temperatures early Thursday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Honolulu – 75F
Hilo, Hawaii – 68F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Thursday morning:
0.87 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.10 OAHU FOREST NWR, OAHU
0.01 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.12 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.13 PAHOA, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a strong 1035 millibar high pressure system moving into the location NW of the Hawaiian Islands Thursday. This high pressure cell will boost our local trade wind speeds now through Saturday…becoming rather blustery, especially during the afternoon hours. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
The north shore of east Maui…with the unusually clear West Maui Mountains beyond in the distance
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
Pleasant late autumn weather persists here in the Hawaiian Islands. The latest weather map shows a high pressure system still parked far to the ENE of the islands Wednesday. There’s a high pressure ridge that extends from the western flank of this high pressure cell…running westward, to the north of the Hawaii islands. This will keep us in a light to moderately strong trade wind flow. These trade winds will increase, becoming rather blustery Thursday through Saturday, then calm down some later in the upcoming weekend into early next week. Winds at the peak of this episode, Friday and Saturday, will top 30 mph, with possible gusts to 40+ mph in those windiest locales in the southern part of the state.
The overlying atmosphere remains quite stable, although satellite images show some minor increase in showery clouds approaching from the east. We’ve seen drier than normal conditions for the last week, which has been nice! As we move into the second half of the week though, an upper level trough of low pressure will move over us. This will prompt an increase in clouds and showers…although the bulk of those showers will fall along the windward sides. As the upper low gets right over us later this weekend into early next week, the windward sides could see a fairly wet trade wind episode occur.
It’s early Wednesday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this sunset commentary. After acknowledging here last evening that I hadn’t seen any Humpback Whales yet, I made a special effort to spot at least one today during my lunch break in Kihei. I didn’t have time to do my usual beach walk and swim routine, but pulled up into the parking lot across the street from the ocean. I sat there with the windows open and roasted, as there wasn’t a bit of breeze, and the sun felt nearly as hot as summer! I kept looking and looking, but alas, to no avail. I’ll keep looking diligently until I spot either a spouting whale, or better yet, a whale breaching. I know they are out there, and that it’s just a matter of time before I spot one. As noted above, we have a spell of windy weather on the horizon, although it shouldn’t last much beyond Saturday. I’m reading a new suspense thriller by Michael Crichton called State of Fear, which is most definitely a page turner! USA Today calls it "Edge-of-your-seat Storytelling." I’m ripping through it at 60 mph, with bursts to 80! At any rate, I hope you have a great Wednesday night, and that you will join me here again on Thursday, if for no other reason, to see how this new blustery trade wind episode is developing. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Posted by Glenn
[3] Comments
December 13-14 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Wednesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 83
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 83
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83
Temperatures early Wednesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Lihue, Kauai – 76F
Kahului, Maui – 64F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Wednesday afternoon:
0.15 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.04 MANOA LYON ARBORETUM, OAHU
0.01 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.06 OHEO GULCH, MAUI
0.14 PAHOA, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a rather strong 1033 millibar high pressure system parked far to our ENE, with its ridge extending westward, running by to the north of the state. As a result we’ll find light to moderately strong trade winds blowing today. A new high pressure system is moving quickly in from the NW direction, which will cause stronger trade winds to arrive Thursday. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
Poipu Beach on Kauai…
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
We’re approaching the tail-end of our long stretch of dry weather with light to moderate trade winds. The latest weather map shows a high pressure system still located far to the ENE of the islands Wednesday. There’s a high pressure ridge that extends from the flank of this high pressure cell…running westward to the north of the Hawaii islands. This will keep us in a light to moderately strong trade wind flow, which will keep our nice late autumn weather conditions alive. These trade winds will increase, becoming rather blustery during the second half of the work week, then calm down some later in the upcoming weekend into early next week.
Mostly dry weather will persist one more day, with some increase in showers arriving over the next couple of days. We’ve been drier than normal for the last week, although as we move into the second half of the week, the upper ridge will be replaced by a trough of low pressure aloft. This will prompt a gradual increase in clouds and showers. The great majority of whatever showers that are around, will fall along the windward sides…leaving the leeward sides still quite dry. As the upper low gets right over us later this weekend into early next week, the windward sides could see a wet trade wind episode develop.
It’s Wednesday morning, and I had trouble with my internet connectivity at home this morning. I had the new narrative all ready to send out, but lost my connection for some reason…and thus couldn’t send it out to you. So, I’m at work in Kihei now, and don’t have the time to start all over. Therefore, this last paragraph will be shorter than usual, sorry about that. I’ll be able to update the weather details later today, and then come back for a sunset commentary once I get back home in Kula. I hope you have a great Wednesday. Aloha…Glenn.
Posted by Glenn
1 Comment
December 11-12 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Monday:
Lihue, Kauai – 81F
Honolulu, Oahu – 83
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 83
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 82
Temperatures early Tuesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Lihue, Kauai – 74F
Kahului, Maui – 64F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Tuesday morning :
0.08 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.02 KAWAILOA, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.01 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.05 OHEO GULCH, MAUI
0.10 MOUNTAIN VIEW, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a rather strong 1033 millibar high pressure system spinning far to our ENE, with its ridge extending westward to our north. As a result we’ll find light to moderately strong trade winds blowing today and Wednesday…gusty in the afternoons locally. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
Hanalei Bay on Kauai…
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
The trade winds, with their pleasant weather reality, will continue blowing across the Hawaiian Islands through this week. The latest weather map shows a high pressure system spinning far to the ENE of the islands Monday. There is a high pressure ridge that extends from the flank of this high pressure cell…running westward and north of the Hawaii islands now. This will keep us in a light to moderately strong trade wind flow, which will contribute to our near perfect late autumn weather conditions. These trade winds will increase, becoming rather blustery during the second half of the work week, then calm down some by the weekend.
The combination of the high pressure ridge to our north, and a ridge aloft over the islands…will keep mostly dry weather in place for the time being. We’ve been drier than normal for the last several days, with little change expected through Wednesday. As we move into the second half of the week, the upper ridge will be replaced by a trough of low pressure aloft. This will prompt an increase in clouds and showers, but only so much as to put us back into what we would call a normal precipitation pattern. The great majority of whatever showers that are around then, will fall along the windward sides…leaving the leeward sides still mostly dry.
It’s early Monday evening in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this post sunset commentary. It’s cool up here in the upcountry area, at this 3,000+ foot elevation on the slopes of the Haleakala Crater. My outside temperature sensor at 630pm is reading 60F degrees, while for comparisons sake, at the same time, 22 minutes down the mountain in Kahului, at sea level more or less…it was a warmer 74 degrees. Meanwhile, again at the same time, it was an even warmer 78 degrees in Kailua-kona on the Big Island’s leeward coast. I can’t help thinking back about my great weekend on the windward side of Oahu, and how fun it all was. We bodysurfed Waimanalo Beach each morning, and all of us exclaimed how the water felt cold…maybe 76 degrees or so. It was chilly because all the trade wind action on that side of the island stirs up cooler water from depth, and brings it up to the surface. While I was at the beach during my lunch break today, in Kihei on the leeward side of Maui, it was warmer. It was a still comfortable 78 degrees, and with the lack of trade winds blowing, made for a very pleasant ocean experience! I’m still somewhat tired from all the activity I had on Oahu, what with all the dancing, and staying out late, even though I slept very soundly last night. At any rate, I hope you are doing well wherever you happen to be reading from. I notice that the number of hits on this website are shooting up recently, there must be lots of you folks checking the weather before coming to the islands for the upcoming holidays. I’ll be back before the crack of dawn Tuesday with your next narrative from paradise, see you then. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Posted by Glenn
1 Comment
December 10-11 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Sunday:
Lihue, Kauai – 82F
Honolulu, Oahu – 84
Kaneohe, Oahu – 82
Kahului, Maui – 84
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 82
Temperatures early Monday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Lihue, Kauai – 76F
Molokai airport – 65F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Monday morning:
0.02 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.04 OAHU FOREST NWR, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.00 MAUI
0.01 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a rather strong 1032 millibar high pressure system spinning far to our ENE, with its ridge extending westward to our north. As a result we’ll find light to moderately strong trade winds blowing today and Tuesday. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
Waimanalo Beach on Oahu…
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
A well established trade wind weather pattern will keep favorably inclined conditions alive across the Hawaiian Islands through this weekend into the new week ahead. A high pressure system is located to the north of the Aloha state now, which will continue to spin-out moderate to strong trade winds. Those typically windiest areas will see winds gusting up into the 30+ mph range Saturday, although in general, we can look for 15-30 mph breezes in most areas Sunday into Monday.
The overlying atmosphere is dry and stable, which will keep shower activity to a minimum. Whatever few showers that do manage to get wrung-out of the clouds, will fall along the windward coasts and slopes, and over the mountains on the smaller islands. The leeward sides will very likely remain completely dry through the rest of this weekend, into the new week ahead. There are no organized rainmakers taking aim on our islands. This leaves a sunny reality in place, especially along those resort filled south and west facing beaches. The next possible showery outbreak may happen by next weekend.
Large to very large surf continues to break along our north through NW shores. There have been, at least at those very largest surf breaks in Hawaii, some waves exhibiting 20+ foot faces the last few days! Computer wave models show more larger than normal surf episodes coming our way. This suggests that the surf will remain locally rough along the north and NW shores on all the islands. Please use caution if you find yourself at a beach where rough surf is breaking.
I’ll be on the island of Oahu, often called the Gathering Place Island, this weekend. I’m going over for a very large gathering of people, in this case the U2 concert at the Aloha stadium. There are expected to be near 50,000 people in attendance, which is more folks than I ever remember being around in one place! I’ll fly to Honolulu late Friday afternoon, picked up by friends, then heading over to Waikiki for dinner out…followed by dancing afterwards. I’ll be staying over on the windward side, in Kailua, which is a lovely area. We plan on going bodysurfing Saturday morning, which I’ll love of course. We’ll head over to the town side late in the afternoon, for what I’m told will be a fun gathering of people out in the stadium parking lot…where tail gate parties will be taking place. Then it’s a music group called Pearl Jam, followed by the U2 group. These are big names in the world of music, definitely! I hope we get to do some more bodysurfing again Sunday morning, and then my friends will take me back to the Honolulu airport, for the short flight back to Maui. I won’t be able to do much website updating, or at least a minimal amount while gone. I hope you have a great weekend wherever you happen to be reading from! Aloha for now…Glenn.
Posted by Glenn
No Comments
December 7-8 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Thursday:
Lihue, Kauai – 78F
Honolulu, Oahu – 82
Kaneohe, Oahu – 78
Kahului, Maui – 81
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 84
Temperatures early Friday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Lihue, Kauai – 74F
Hilo airport – 67F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Friday morning:
0.44 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.71 OAHU FOREST NWR, OAHU
0.08 MOLOKAI
0.01 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
1.00 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.19 HILO AIRPORT, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1027 millibar high pressure system to the north of our islands…with ridges extending out of its flanks to the east and west. This high pressure cell will provide moderately strong trade winds through Saturday. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
Another great beach in Hawaii…
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
Gusty trade winds are flooding into the state Thursday, as a high pressure system moves by to the north of the Hawaiian Islands. The leading edge of this new surge of trade winds rode in on the heels of a shearline cloud band…which moved down into the state, stalling over Maui County. These winds are going to be slightly cool to the feel for a short while, and are strong enough to have triggered small craft advisories in all Hawaiian waters. As a matter of fact, these blustery winds are strong enough over the islands too, that a wind advisory for strong and gusty winds over the islands is in effect as well. We could see winds gusting in those locally windiest spots to almost 50 mph today, gradually backing off Friday.
These increasingly strong trade winds will carry in an increase in showers to the windward sides at times Thursday. The aforementioned shearline cloud band brought the first round of showers into the windward sides. The leftover moisture from this dissipating weather feature will keep a few passing showers falling along the north through east facing coasts and slopes. The expectation is for considerably drier air to move into the state starting Friday, so breezy weather, but with limited showers should be the net result as we move into the weekend. It is December, and considering the climatological norm, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a cold front come knocking on our doorstep at some point by later next week.
Large to very large surf will be breaking along our north through NW shores now. This first swell, in a series of large swells, arrived late Wednesday on Kauai and Oahu, and has worked its way down into the rest of the state Thursday. This first swell will be followed by more large waves as we move through the rest of this week. Please use caution if you find yourself at a beach where rough surf is breaking. More people die from high surf than any other natural hazard here in Hawaii!
It’s early Thursday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this sunset commentary. Despite a few showers falling along the windward coasts and slopes, Thursday turned out to be quite a nice day overall. The sunshine beamed down strongly along the leeward coasts, with nice beach weather prevailing in most places. The winds were strong and gusty in some areas, with the top gust that I saw during the afternoon reported at South Point on the Big Island…where a 47 mph reading occurred! As I was driving home from work this evening, I passed through several pockets of low hanging clouds, qualifying as fog, as I came up through the pasturelands between Pukalani and Kula…which I enjoyed a lot. I’m starting to get excited about flying over to the island of Oahu Friday after work! This trip is centered around the U2 concert at the Aloha stadium. Besides that fun music event, I’m looking forward to hanging out with my weather reporters on that island, those folks who provide me with live daily reports for my TV weather show and this website too. I’ll be away from my computer from Friday afternoon through Monday morning, just as a heads up. I hope you have a great Thursday night wherever you happen to be spending it. I’ll be back dark and early Friday morning with your next weather narrative. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Posted by Glenn
1 Comment
December 6-7 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Wednesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 85
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Kahului, Maui – 82
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83
Temperatures early Thursday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kahului airport, Maui – 75F
Hilo airport – 69F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Thursday morning:
0.36 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.05 NUUANU UPPER, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.26 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.34 HONOKAA, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a weakening shearline moving into the islands Thursday, where it will stall near Maui. A following 1026 millibar high pressure system, now to the NW of our islands, will be moving by to the north. The net effect will be for increasing trade winds 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
High surf on Hawaii’s north shores now!
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
The trade winds remained on the light side of the wind spectrum most of Wednesday, then began to surge during the afternoon and evening hours…ushering in cooler air. Our trade wind producing high pressure ridge had been forced well south of its normal position by a dynamic late autumn storm low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska. This southern displacement kept our trade winds quite light the last few days. The forecast shows trade wind strengths rebounding now, staying rather blustery through the rest of this week. Small craft advisory flags will go up over the marine environment as these fresh trade winds fill in.
The increasingly strong trade winds will carry in an increase in showers to the windward sides at times. We’ll see a shearline cloud band get pushed by just to the north of the island chain Wednesday evening into Thursday, riding in on the leading edge of this new trade wind burst. The leeward sides will remain dry, although with the trade winds getting stronger now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a few stray showers flying over there on the lower mountains on the smaller islands here and there too.
Meanwhile, the big news in the world of weather will be occurring along our north and NW shores…as the season’s first winter storm waves arrive soon. Weather maps show a very deep storm spinning in the Gulf of Alaska…which has been generating large swell trains of waves in our general direction. The first swell will arrive later Wednesday into Thursday, with more large to very large surf episodes pounding our shores through the rest of the week. A high surf warning flag has already been hoisted along those north and NW shores from Kauai to Maui. Please use caution if you find yourself at a beach were rough surf is breaking. More people die from high surf than any other natural hazard here in Hawaii!
The surf community is buzzing with anticipation of the large waves that are heading our way along the north and NW shores! This will be a time when the jet skis will likely be pulling riders into very large waves. There may be helicopters flying overhead all the action, with photographers hanging out the doors with video cameras. Lots of experienced watermen live for these large surf episodes…it makes for exciting viewing for everyone else, poised on the cliffs and beaches watching in awe!
It’s early Wednesday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this post sunset commentary. I was a little surprised to see all the clouds late this afternoon, taking a free ride into the state on the strengthening trade winds. The so called weak shearline (cloud band), which is being pushed into the state, has a little more punch than was expected. I started to run into a few sprinkles on the drive between Kihei and Puunene, and then coming up the Haleakala Highway I found myself using my windshield wipers more and more. As I drove up from Pukalani towards Kula, those showers turned heavier, being blown around by the gusty winds. When I got home I found cool temperatures, cloudy skies, but no wind or showers. It didn’t take long before they arrived here too…with my chimes at the moment, singing a windy song! I had to shut my windward windows in this weather tower just now. The truth is that all this has surprised me to some extent, in a good way that is…as I love these weather changes! It’s fully windy out there, which is quite a treat. I hope you have a great Wednesday night, whether its windy where you are or not. I’ll be back very early Thursday morning with your next weather narrative. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Please check out the advertising links on the left hand margin, there are lots of good products and services available!
Posted by Glenn
No Comments
December 5-6 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Tuesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 86
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 81
Hilo, Hawaii – 83
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83
Temperatures early Wednesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kahului, Maui – 73F
Molokai – 67F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Wednesday morning:
0.06 KAPAHI, KAUAI
0.34 WILSON TUNNEL, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.03 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.30 OHEO GULCH, MAUI
0.20 LAUPAHOEHOE, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing an approaching shearline is keeping our trade wind producing high pressure ridge down close to Kauai Wednesday. This location will make for one more day of lighter trade winds, before they surge forward again on Thursday. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
A different type of snorkeling!
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
A stable trade wind weather pattern will remain active in Hawaii for the time being. We find high pressure centers well established far to the NW and NE now. These trade wind producing high pressure cells will keep alive light to moderately strong trade winds. We will see a temporary softening of their speeds through Wednesday, then they will pick up again Thursday through the rest of the week. The latest computer forecast models suggest the trades will ease up a tad after this coming weekend.
The overlying atmosphere is dry and stable, thanks to high pressure aloft. This reality will keep sunny to partly cloudy weather in most places in the islands. Whatever showers that we find falling, will fall along the windward coasts and slopes during the night and early morning hours. We may see a weak cloud band get pushed towards the Kauai end of the chain around Thursday, but it won’t amount to much. The leeward sides will remain dry, with probably not a drop of water falling in those areas through the rest of this early December week.
The north and NW shores will see large to very large waves breaking later this week. Weather maps show a very deep storm spinning in the western side of the Gulf of Alaska now…which is generating a large swell train of waves. This swell will arrive late Wednesday or Thursday, with a second even larger NW swell expected later this coming weekend. There will be high surf advisory or even high surf warning flags being raised in our local waters when these swells arrive. Please use caution if you find yourself at a beach were rough surf is happening.
It’s early Tuesday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this just past sunset commentary. It was yet another great day here in the islands, with plentiful sunshine beaming down for even the most diehard sun worshipper. I didn’t have time to get to the beach this afternoon at lunch, but I did sit in my car for a few minutes across the street from it, and enjoyed the view. The sun was very warm at the time, feeling not too much different than during the summer months. It’s 63F degrees here in Kula, at right around 615pm. Meanwhile, down at sea level, the Kahului airport was (at the same time) 75 degrees. The warmest major airport weather station at the same hour was 79 degrees at Kailua-Kona on the Big Island coast. I see no reason to believe that our terrific late autumn weather pattern won’t last through the rest of the week. I know this may sound funny, but anybody here in the upcountry area that can become this weatherman’s haircutter? My regular lady isn’t able to give cuts on Saturday’s anymore at her house, and I can’t fit in a cut during the weekdays. So, I’m looking for someone in the Kula area who could put their scissors to good use on the weekends every six weeks or so? At any rate, I hope everyone has a great Tuesday night…and that if you’re so inclined, meet me here again early Wednesday morning… where you’ll find the next narrative from paradise waiting. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Please check out the advertising links on the left hand margin, there are lots of good products and services available!
Posted by Glenn
No Comments
December 4-5 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Monday:
Lihue, Kauai – 81F
Honolulu, Oahu – 84
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 82
Hilo, Hawaii – 83
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 85
Temperatures early Tuesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kaneohe, Oahu – 75F
Kahului, Maui – 63F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Tuesday morning:
0.05 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.03 KAWAILOA, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.02 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.38 MOUNTAIN VIEW, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1026 millibar high pressure system located far to the NE of the islands Tuesday. This high will provide light to moderately strong trade winds through Wednesday…becoming moderately strong again Thursday onwards. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
Waikiki beach front lights
Photo Credit: Flikr.com
The upper level low pressure system to the west of the islands, which pushed all the cloudiness over the Aloha state this past weekend…is moving away. This
will allow clearing skies, with lots of sunny weather to return now. This new weather reality will make most everyone happy, as it was exceptionally cloudy the last couple of days! Those clouds dumped a lot of rain in places Saturday, although that precipitation backed-off quite a bit Sunday. Here’s a live webcam view of the Mauna Kea summit on the Big Island.
Drier air is moving in aloft now, which will have a subsiding tendency…limiting the shower forming capacity of whatever clouds that are around now. The general shift from cloudy and showery, to sunny and dry weather, will come as a relief to most island residents, and certainly those vacationers here in the islands now too. The latest forecasts suggest that these favorably inclined conditions will stick around through most of this early December week ahead.
The marine environment is liable to see large to very large waves breaking later this week. Storms now in the NW Pacific Ocean are getting stronger and stronger, as we edge into the last part of this autumn season. These gale and storm low pressure systems are projected to send a couple of pretty large swells in our direction. The first may arrive around Wednesday or Thursday, with a second shot of large NW swell activity later this coming weekend. There will be high surf advisory or even high surf warning flags being raised in our local waters if these swells arrive as expected.
It’s early Monday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this sunset commentary. It was a very nice day here on Maui, and in the rest of the state as well. Temperatures were balmy, with pleasant trade wind breezes, and mostly dry everywhere. I made it to the beach during my lunch break from work. For the last few years, I’ve been making the choice to go for a walk and a swim, pretty much rain or shine, cool and windy, or warm and calm…on a daily basis. Recently though I’ve started to make a decision whether or not I’d go that day, rather than just going no matter what. It feels good to actually take a look at the conditions, and see if I feel like getting out there or not. At any rate, today was just plain nice, as the sun was very warm, and there wasn’t much in the way of a breeze. I must admit when I first dove into the ocean, I felt a slight chill, probably because of the totally cloudy skies this past weekend, which maybe dropped the water temperature a degree or so. Now that we are back into a sunny weather cycle, it will likely rise up a notch again over the next couple of days. It took about 15 seconds before it started to feel definitely warm enough, as the chill quickly passed. The sunset was a nice one, and still there’s a bit of an orange glow out to the west. The near full moon will be rising soon too, so that it will be another bright night here in the islands. I’ll be back very early Tuesday morning with your next weather narrative, be well until then. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Please check out the advertising links on the left hand margin, there are lots of good products and services available!
Posted by Glenn
1 Comment
December 3-4 2006
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Sunday:
Lihue, Kauai – 78F
Honolulu, Oahu – 83
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 79
Hilo, Hawaii – 77
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 81
Temperatures early Monday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kailua-Kona – 77F
Hilo, Hawaii – 72F
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Monday morning:
0.52 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.56 POAMOHO 2, OAHU
0.04 MOLOKAI
0.02 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.77 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.44 HONOKAA, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1029 millibar high pressure system located far to the NE of the islands Monday. This high will provide moderately strong trade winds through Tuesday. 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
Full moon in Hawaii
Photo Credit: Konaboy
An upper level low pressure system, with the leftover moisture from an old cold front, combined forces…making for a locally wet Hawaiian Island weather picture Saturday. Things dried out some Sunday, but a ton of high and middle level clouds made for continued cloudy conditions. Meanwhile, high pressure is well established to the north of Hawaii today, which will keep us in a breezy trade wind flow into Monday. As a matter of fact, the latest computer forecast models suggest that we’ll see the trade winds blowing through all of the new week ahead.
A broad band of high and lower level clouds will keep the state cloudy now…although it is in the process of thinning and even clearing in places late in the day Sunday. This satellite image shows this situation well. While we’re looking at images…we can take a look at this latest looping radar picture as well…to see where the latest showers may be falling. The windward sides have seen most of the passing showers Sunday, although it was much less intense and widespread than Saturday’s deluge in places.
It’s late Sunday afternoon here in Kula, Maui as I begin writing this pre-sunset commentary. It was yet another day of rather dense clouds, which blanketed the islands from one end to the other. The weather forecast improves greatly, as the high clouds finally pull back Monday, leading the way into what looks like a mostly dry and pleasant week ahead. At the moment, up here in Kula, at 5pm, a bank of fog just rolled in, which is kind of nice. It’s been so cloudy here in the islands lately at night, that it’s been difficult to keep track of the status of the upcoming December full moon. As it turns out the full moon occurs Monday during the day here in the islands…so that it will be shining brightly above as soon as the clouds part way. I hope you have a great rest of your Sunday, and rest well tonight wherever you happen to be! I’ll be back before the crack of dawn Monday with your next weather narrative from paradise. Aloha for now…Glenn.
p.s. I’m aware that the forecast pages on the upper left hand margin are out of date, hopefully that problem will be fixed soon. Also, the weather chart is out of date as well, and is being worked on.
Here’s a poem for you:
On Divination by Wind ~~~
My Complete Meteorology falls
open to the glossary, where tongue-tied
I’ve returned to linger on the lavish~~~
particularity of petrichor,
name for the smell of long-dry rocks under rain.
Improbable word!—but libraried up~~~
I swear I can smell it, green and vivid
as nectar, as if it sighed from the book
open across my lap. The chapped soul sighs,~~~
opens to knowing like stomata
to southerlies, runs unbodied beyond
my reading hour, beyond the library,~~~
to the moment I push the door open
and step out into the imminent weather,
the pressure’s plummet, the fresh gale~~~
tossing palm trees in slangy hosannas,
all in expectation for the first drops
to release that astonishing perfume~~~
whose name I savor, a canonization
improbable as blood from a stone.~~~
Kimberly Johnson, Michigan Quartly Review
« Previous Page
Email Glenn James: 
