Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs
Posted by GlennOctober 2-3 2007
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Tuesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 85F
Honolulu, Oahu – 85
Kaneohe, Oahu – 83
Kahului, Maui – 87
Hilo, Hawaii – 83
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 88
Temperatures early Wednesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kaneohe, Oahu – 77F
Hilo, Hawaii – 69
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:
0.32 HANALEI RIVER, KAUAI
0.45 PALISADES, OAHU
0.02 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.90 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.79 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a strong 1036 millibar high pressure system located far north of the islands. This pressure configuration will keep moderately strong trade winds blowing across our marine environment through Thursday…stronger and gusty in those usual windier places. 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 and Radar 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.
Coconut palm trees galore…on the Big Island
photo credit: flickr.com
There’s no end in sight for our pleasant early autumn trade wind weather pattern. The latest weather map shows a strong 1035 millibar high pressure system anchored far to the north of the islands Tuesday evening. This trade wind producing high pressure area will keep moderate trade winds blowing, although locally quite strong and gusty in those typically windier locations around the Aloha state. Some of these strongest winds will blow well up into the 30 mph range, and even over 40 mph. A small craft wind advisory is remains in place across those windiest areas in the southern part of the state…including all the major channels.
A minor shower band got blown in over the windward sides of the islands Tuesday, although satellite imagery shows less showery clouds upstream of the islands for Wednesday. The trade winds will continue to carry in an occasional passing shower over the north and east facing windward coasts and slopes however. This of course is very normal, although nothing too heavy or widespread is indicated. The south and west facing leeward beaches will remain nice and warm, and mostly dry. There may be some streaky high cirrus clouds flying overhead at times, especially on the Kauai end of the state. The Kona coast and slopes of the Big Island, may see showers falling here and there during the afternoons into night locally.
It’s Tuesday evening as I begin writing this last paragraph of todays weather narrative. As this satellite image shows that there’s still a bit of high cirrus clouds out to the west of the state…focused mostly around Kauai at the moment. The subtropical jet stream is quite wavy now, with its current twists and turns not bringing too much of that sun dimming high cloudiness over most of the state now…although that could increase. Those upper level winds may turn in such a way that we see those beautiful icy cirrus clouds being drawn over us more thoroughly soon. ~~~ As I’ve pointed out many times, if you are planning on going to the beach, and you don’t like gusty winds throwing sand at you while you’re laying on your towel, try and get there during the morning hours. The Kihei and Wailea areas of Maui, which has lovely beaches, is a perfect example of this kind of contrast between the near calm mornings…and the stronger and gusty conditions that can blow up during the afternoon hours! This of course is common when we have a stronger version of the trade winds blowing, like we have currently. ~~~ As I was mentioning above, the trade winds are rather strong and gusty now. Case in point: the Lipoa Point, on the upper west side of Maui, reported several hours when wind gusts were reaching 46 mph! ~~~ I want to remind everyone that I will be leaving on my autumn sojourn to the west coast this Saturday, leaving to chase the yellowing Aspen tree leaves in the High Sierra of northern California. I’ll be gone for three weeks, and since I haven’t had a vacation in over a year, I’m ready to get out from under my heavy duty work schedule. ~~~ I’ll be back early Wednesday morning with your next weather narrative, and as usual, I want to wish you a very pleasant Tuesday night wherever you happen to be spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.
Email Glenn James: 
