June 11-12 2008


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

Lihue, Kauai – 82
Honolulu, Oahu – 88
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Kahului, Maui – 85
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-kona – 84

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 6 p.m. Wednesday evening:

Honolulu, Oahu – 82F  
Kaneohe, Oahu – 75

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 Waialaele, Kauai
0.27 Wilson Tunnel, Oahu
0.04 Molokai
0.39 Lanai
0.02 Kahoolawe
0.75 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.85 Honokaa, Big Island

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1036 millibar high pressure system far to the northeast of the islands. This high pressure cell, along with its associated ridge, will keep light trade winds blowing across our area Thursday and Friday…into the weekend.  

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. 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 weather conditions.

Aloha Paragraphs
The image “http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/416839219_b424ae542e.jpg?v=0” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.
  Delicious Hawaiian Papaya
Photo Credit: flickr.com

The trade winds will become quite a bit lighter during the second half of the week. A strong, but far away 1037 millibar high pressure system, would ordinarily keep our local trade winds rather strong and gusty. The computer models continue to predict a rather definite easing-up of the winds however, as an upper level trough of low pressure moves close…which will cause lighter winds Thursday into the weekend.

There will be somewhat more than the ordinary amount of windward showers now…gradually shifting to over the interior areas over the next several days. As the upper level trough gets closer to the islands, we will see a modified convective weather pattern developing, which is a bit unusual for this time of year. There’s the chance that some of these upcountry showers will be locally generous. This weather pattern will continue into the first day or two of next week.

~~~ The computer forecast models indicatelighter winds, and a good chance of showers now through the rest of the week. The focus for this precipitation, as noted above, will be over the windward sides temporarily. As the trade winds slow down, the emphasis for showers will shift to over and around the mountains during the afternoon hours. It will take the return of the trade winds next week to bring the showers back over to the windward sides.

~~~ It’s early Wednesday evening, as I sit here in my Kula, Maui weather tower, after what turned out to be a cloudy, and misty afternoon. Those mists were occasionally more like light showers, with relatively cool temperatures. I spent some time pressure spraying my deck, although kept the water usage to a bare minimum, considering the dry conditions. One of the reasons I did this was to take the winters dirt and mildew off the deck, so that I could put my new ping pong table on it. Yes, I just purchased, on craigslist, a near new table, which I’ll talk more about this weekend when the seller delivers it from down in Wailuku. Suffice it to say I’m excited, and look forward to getting back into one of my favorite sports, which is ping pong! I’ll be back very early Thursday morning with your next new weather narrative. I hope you have a great Wednesday night wherever you happen to be spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.