Hawaiian Islands weather details & Aloha paragraphs
Posted by GlennMarch 12-13 2008
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Wednesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 82
Honolulu, Oahu – 84
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Kahului, Maui – 82
Hilo, Hawaii – 84
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83
Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning:
Honolulu, Oahu – 74F
Molokai airport – 68
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:
0.27 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.03 LULUKU, OAHU
0.01 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.01 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.14 MOUNTAIN VIEW, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map. High pressure centers far to the north and NE will keep moderately strong trade winds blow through Friday…locally somewhat stronger and gusty in those typically windiest spots around the state.
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.
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.
You can almost get wet…just looking at this little wave!
Photo Credit: MSW
We’ve left the long lasting light wind condition in the dust, or should I say the haze…moving steadily into a solid trade wind weather pattern now. Light to moderate trade winds will remain in place through the rest of the week. Those typically windiest areas will find somewhat stronger and gusty conditions. Air visibilities, which were compromised by all the volcanic haze at times over the last couple of weeks, will continue to improve now. The trade winds most often provide favorably inclined weather conditions, and are forecast to continue into next week.
Along with that long spell of light winds, we’ve been dug into an exceptionally dry weather pattern as well. This should change now, at least along the windward sides of the islands…where some showers will fall. There are no upper level troughs that will enhance these incoming trade wind showers however, so that most amounts will be rather light in general for the time being. The leeward sides will remain mostly dry, and quite sunny during the days, much to the delight of visitors and local residents that are beach bound. The next chance of an increase in showers will occur late this weekend or early next week.
It’s Wednesday evening as I begin updating this last paragraph of today’s narrative. We’ve finally turned the corner back into a nice looking, late winter trade wind weather pattern. The Hawaiian Islands love their trade winds this time of year! The main reason is that it keeps rain bearing cold fronts out of our tropical latitudes, which can sometimes be weather spoilers. Speaking of cold fronts, the latest satellite imagery shows just such a frontal cloud band a little ways to the northwest of Kauai at mid-week. This front won’t be able to drop down into the Aloha state however, and will be out of our weather picture soon. ~~~ As I was mentioning in yesterday’s narrative, our beaches are finding lots of breaking waves. Actually, almost every beach in the state has some form of surf action now, with the largest being focused along the north shores. Even the south shores are getting into the action now, which is a bit unusual for this early in the season. Our local surfing community is happy, as are the windsurf and kiteboarders…riding the fresh trade winds and the waves too. All things considered, this is a good time in the islands, with lots of good weather for everyone. The windward sides will finally see a few passing showers, which are very welcome after such a long time without a single drop falling. ~~~ The prolonged period of dry weather has prompted the Department of Water on Maui, to ask farmers in the upcountry area to mandatorily make 10% cutbacks in their water usage. The Big Island folks, those who depend upon rain catchment for their water needs, are being asked to order water now, rather than wait until there’s a log jam of requests. ~~~ I’ll be back again very early Thursday morning with your next new weather narrative, until then I hope everyone has a great Wednesday night! Aloha for now…Glenn.
Interesting: A friendly dolphin saved two pygmy sperm whales stranded off a
Smith said the whales were getting tired and he was getting cold when a dolphin who regularly plays off the beach, called Moko by local residents, turned up, the New Zealand Press Association reported. "The whales were sitting on the surface of the water quite distressed, they had arched their backs and were calling to one another, but as soon as the dolphin turned up they submerged into the water and followed her," Smith said.
He said the whales could have been confused by a large sandbar just off the shore but Moko led them about 200 metres along the beach and escorted them out to sea through a channel. "She obviously gave them enough guidance to leave the area because we haven’t seen them since.
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