Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs
Posted by GlennAugust 8-9 2007
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Wednesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 86F
Honolulu, Oahu – 89
Kaneohe, Oahu – 84
Kahului, Maui – 90
Hilo, Hawaii – 86
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 86
Temperatures early Thursday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kaneohe, Oahu – 78F
Hilo, Hawaii – 70
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:
0.26 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.37 NUUANU UPPER, OAHU
0.02 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.08 OHEO GULCH, MAUI
0.57 KAPAPALA RANCH, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing the continued presence of a large 1032 millibar high pressure system located far north of Hawaii…with its associated ridges extending far NW and NE of Hawaii Thursday. The trade winds will be light to moderately strong over Hawaii’s coastal waters…although locally stronger and gusty in those usual windiest locations through 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.
Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific – Here’s the latest information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean.
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.
It’s deep summer in the northern hemisphere now
There will be no letup in the trade wind flow across our tropical latitudes here in the islands. Weather maps show the continued presence of an unusually large 1033 millibar high pressure system far to the north of Hawaii Wednesday. This high pressure cell will keep the trade winds active through the next week, and likely longer. The trade winds are very common here in the islands during the summer months, blowing approximately 93% of the time on average during August. The trade winds provide cooling and refreshing relief from the hot summer afternoons.
The windward sides of the islands, those facing north and east, will find a few showers, although nothing unusual. As is almost always the case, the leeward sides of the islands will remain almost completely dry. The one exception will be the chance of a few afternoon showers along the Kona slopes of the Big Island. Satellite imagery shows an area of tropical moisture 300+ miles east of the islands, which will arrive along the windward sides by Friday morning…we could use these showers, as dry conditions remain in place in many parts of the state.
The Perseid Meteor Shower will reach its maximum intensity early this coming Monday. Weather conditions permitting, showers of meteors appearing as bright streaks of light in the sky are expected to number as many as 100 an hour, made more visible by a new moon this year, the European Space Agency said. Last year’s shower was marred by the glare of an 87 percent full moon, making the meteors nearly impossible to see, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said. ESA scientists said the showers are produced by dust trails left by comet Swift-Tuttle — next expected to approach the sun in August 2126. As Earth’s orbit crosses the dust that was ejected by the comet’s previous August passages it provides a spectacle for viewers on Earth. As the particles enter the planet’s atmosphere, they burn up, producing the "fireworks." The phenomenon derives its name from the constellation Perseus, from where the meteors seem to originate. Telescopes or binoculars aren’t necessary, but it is important to be in a dark area, without much pollution or illumination, the ESA said.
It’s Wednesday here in the islands, as I begin writing this last paragraph of today’s narrative. As I was saying on my TV weather show yesterday morning, "what could I possibly say today, that I didn’t say about the weather the day before." That’s how it is during the summer months at times, with little variation from day to day, and sometimes from week to week even. The tropics are not known for wild swings, although as we all know, we can have big summer or autumn tropical storms that come charging off the ocean over islands and shores. At the moment there are no tropical cyclones here in the central Pacific, nor the eastern Pacific. There are a couple of areas that could flair up into a tropical depression far east of here, towards Mexico, although nothing is spinning over there just yet. ~~~ I made an invitation to the readers of this webpage to take advantage of the response box below yesterday. This is a pretty slow part of the year for viewing of this website in general…I just checked, and there were only 4,313 of you who logged-on yesterday. At any rate, I find it fun to read the responses of you who have taken a minute to share your thoughts or impressions, or whatever. Thanks to everyone who dropped a line in the response box below today…it makes this website more dynamic and interactive. ~~~ I’ll be back early Thursday morning with your next weather narrative from paradise, I hope you have a great Wednesday night wherever you happen to be now! Aloha for now…Glenn.
By the way, here’s a tracking map, showing the expected path of a newly formed tropical cyclone in the eastern Pacific. There is no immediate threat to the islands, although as tropical depression 9E strengthens into tropical storm Flossie soon, we will be keeping a close eye on its progress. The latest GFS model run shows whatever is left of 9E bringing pretty good tropical rains to the islands next Wednesday.
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