Hawaiian Islands weather details & Aloha paragraphs
Posted by GlennMarch 15-16 2008
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday:
Lihue, Kauai – 81
Honolulu, Oahu – 85
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Kahului, Maui – 81
Hilo, Hawaii – 75
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 82
Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 5 a.m. Saturday morning:
Lihue, Kauai – 74F
Hilo, Hawaii – 66
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Saturday afternoon:
0.20 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.01 PUNALUU PUMP, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.46 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.57 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map. A strong 1038 millibar high pressure center is located far to the northeast, which will keep moderate to fresh trade winds blowing through Monday…locally 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.
Poipu Beach on Kauai
Photo Credit: flickr.com
A strong 1038 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands, will keep breezy trade winds blowing this weekend. These winds are blustery enough to keep a small craft wind advisory active in those windiest areas around the state. Wind speeds will vary between 5-25 mph generally, although there will be stronger gusts topping 30 mph in those wind enhanced places. These late winter trade winds are expected to remain active into the new week ahead. The latest computer models show an unusually robust high pressure system forming around the middle of the new week ahead, which will keep the trade winds strong and gusty thereafter.
There will be some showers carried into the windward sections on these gusty trade winds, although rather limted for the time being. The atmosphere over and around the islands remains somewhat dry, stopping the showers from becoming too generous. As we move into later Sunday, continuing into the new week ahead for a day or two, we may see some form of increase in showers along the windward sides, and perhaps over and around the mountains too. As the trade winds are quite strong, a few showers may be carried over into the leeward sections…along with generous afternoon showers in Kona.
It’s Saturday evening as I begin updating last paragraph of today’s narrative. There appears to be no end to the trade wind episode that now is well established here in Hawaii…although if they angle a little to the southeast, we would see volcanic haze locally. These winds are currently quite strong, thanks to the 1038 millibar high pressure system far to the northeast of the islands. This will keep our trade winds alive through the weekend, into the new week ahead. The models show an unusually strong 1040 millibar high pressure system taking shape by next Wednesday. If this high were to manifest, we would see small craft advisories across all of Hawaii’s marine environment, with the chance of gale warnings in some of the major channels around Maui and the Big Island. There could even be wind advisories over the islands in places. Again, all of this depends upon whether such a hefty high pressure system actually becomes reality. ~~~ There remains quite a bit of uncertainty around the possible increase in showers later this weekend into Monday. The models have been pushing for this weather solution, but again, only time will tell if we do see the windward sides getting considerably wetter…which would be pretty much restricted to Maui and the Big Island. ~~~ Saturday was a good day, a bit hazy here on Maui, actually quite hazy indeed. I’m quite sure that the Kona coast had its fair share of volcanic haze as well. As I mentioned this morning, there was a spectacular sunrise, and by the looks of the cirrus clouds up above late in the afternoon…we could see a great sunset tonight as well. ~~~ I’ll be back early Sunday morning with your next new narrative, I hope you have a great Saturday night until then! Aloha, Glenn.
Weekend Poem…
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s life may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
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