May 18-19 2008

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

Lihue, Kauai – 82
Honolulu, Oahu – 90…tied the record for the date
Kaneohe, Oahu – 82
Kahului, Maui – 85
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 84

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

Honolulu, Oahu – 86F
Hilo, Hawaii – 79   

Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Sunday afternoon: 

0.01  Moloaa Dairy, Kauai
0.00 Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.01 Kahului airport, Maui
0.03 Kahuku Ranch, Big Island

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a high pressure ridge north of the state of Hawaii Monday. This has keep light to moderately strong easterly trade winds active…continuing through Tuesday.

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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The trade winds are clearing the haze away
Photo Credit: flickr.com

The trade winds are back, and will stick around through Tuesday. A trade wind producing ridge of high pressure is north of Kauai Sunday night. Light trade winds have slipped into the state on Kauai, blowing light to moderately strong from the Big Island up through the island of Oahu. These cooling and refreshing trade breezes continuing the clearing our local skies of the haze now.

Dry weather will continue, despite the return of the trade winds. The atmosphere remains dry and stable, which will remain the case into the first part of the 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. Our weather will take a turn back into a light wind convective weather pattern by mid-week.

The computer forecast models are showing an upper level low pressure system digging down towards the islands around the middle of the new week. A surface reflection, in the form of a very late season cold front, is shown approaching the state from the northwest at the same time. The unfortunate part of this impending weather situation would be the fact that our local trade winds will be pushed south of the state again, as the ridge slides down over Hawaii. It looks like our winds will turn southeast again…ushering in volcanic haze over the state again then.

~~~  Sunday was a nice day here in the islands, especially so, as we’re finally being able to see some detail on our surrounding moutains and valleys. The trade winds have filled back across the entire state now, with a top gust of 27 mph already at Maalaea Bay on Maui, late Sunday afternoon. The refreshing trade winds didn’t keep the air from rising nicely however, with Honolulu reporting a high temperature of 90F degrees…which tied the record maximum temperature for the date. We’ll see these pleasant weather conditions continuing into the new week, although, as described in the paragraph above, the trades will be breaking down again by Wednesday.

~~~ I had a great Sunday, getting up early, like I like to do, polishing off the website updates first thing. I darted out shortly thereafter for the long version of my early morning walk, which I have time for during the weekends. I ate a nice breakfast, followed up with my usual espresso and pastry. I finally got down to the Pukalani golf course with my old putter, and a worn out golf ball, for some putting. I really enjoyed it, and all I can say is, watch out Tiger Woods! I spend the rest of the day at home, much of it working in our garden with the neighbors. I’ll be back very early Monday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, that the haze is much reduced, and I can see the West Maui Mountains quite well…although there is still some haze around. I hope you have a great Sunday night wherever you happen to be spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.

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