May 17-18 2008

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday: 

Lihue, Kauai – 83
Honolulu, Oahu – 86
Kaneohe, Oahu – 83
Kahului, Maui – 89
Hilo, Hawaii – 83
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 80

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 5 p.m. Saturday evening:

Kapalua, Maui – 84F
Hilo, Hawaii – 78   

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: 

0.31  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.01 Waianae Valley, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.01 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.10 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.11 Pahala, Big Island

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a high pressure ridge just north of the state of Hawaii now. This has brought back light to moderately strong easterly trade winds…which will last through Monday.

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.

Aloha Paragraphs


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After the volcanic haze is gone
Photo Credit: flickr.com

The trade winds are back! A trade wind producing ridge of high pressure is now north of Kauai Saturday evening. Light trade winds have slipped into the state to its south, blowing light to moderately strong from the Big Island up through the island of Oahu…still light on Kauai. These cooling and refreshing trade breezes are helping to clear out our local skies, which will be much improved Sunday. 

The trade winds usually bring back some showers to the windward sides, although not many for the time being. The atmosphere remains dry and stable, which will remain the case through the weekend into early in the upcoming new week. The leeward sides will be generally dry, with lots of sunshine beaming down during the days. Nice weather will prevail through the next several days…at least.

The models were showing a dynamic upper level low pressure system digging down towards the islands around the middle of the upcoming week. A surface reflection, in the form of a very late season cold front, was also shown approaching the state from the northwest at the same time. The unfortunate part of this impending weather situation would have been the fact that our local trade winds would stop again, as the ridge would be pushed down over Hawaii again by Wednesday or Thursday. We would have likely seen our winds turn southeast again…ushering in thick volcanic haze over the state again then! The fortunate thing is that the latest model runs have backed off on this, lets hope that they stick with this through the next couple of days!

~~~ I went to see a new film Friday evening after work. I saw Iron Man (2008), starring Robert Downey, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Shaun Toub, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark, a billionaire playboy and genius who puts as much effort into chasing skirts as he puts into chasing his next big idea. A trip to Afghanistan to sell weapons quickly devolves into chaos, and Stark finds himself at the mercy of a warlord who wants him to build a missile. Instead, Stark creates a powerful suit of armor, turning him into Iron Man and allowing him to escape. When he returns to America, his assistant Pepper Pots (Gwyneth Paltrow), friend Rhodey (Terrence Howard), and right-hand man Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) all marvel at the change in the man they knew…who is ready to save the world. 

Everyone has been raving about this film, and I for one had been looking forward to seeing it for a long time! I was thoroughly entertained, and found the film to be very engaging. It had plenty of special effects, and no lack of high action either. There were aspects of it that reminded me of Batman, or even Superman, it was that kind of big film. If you are a fan of those kinds of tall tales, you would do well to see this highly rated movie. I enjoyed all of the actors, and I must admit got a fairly major crush on Ms. Paltrow…its fun to look at her beauty on the big screen! Here’s a trailer for your enjoyment.

~~~ The trade winds are back, which is a good thing! It’s still before sunset here in Kula, Maui, as I begin this last paragraph…and still quite hazy in the lee of the Haleakala Crater. Stepping out on my weather deck, I still can’t quite see the West Maui Mountains. I was downtown in Kahului today though, and found that the trade winds were clearing the haze from the windward sides already. I’m sure that during the day Sunday, the haze will be ventilated away even more, and by this time on Sunday, there will be substantially better air visibilities. I’ll be back Sunday morning with a new weather narrative, with the latest status on the hazy conditions of late. I hope you have a great Saturday night wherever you happen to be spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.