Weather Details and Aloha Paragraphs
Posted by GlennDecember 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
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.
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