June 28-29 2008


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

Lihue, Kauai – 83
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 84
Kahului, Maui – 89
Hilo, Hawaii – 86
Kailua-kona – 85

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

Kahului, Maui – 83F  
South Point, Hawaii – 73

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:

0.08  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.01 Poamoho 2, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.07 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.03 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.06 Pahala, Big Island

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure centers stretched out from the northwest, north, through northeast of the islands. These high pressure systems will keep only light trade winds blowing 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. 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

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/311345614_037c92b1f4.jpg?v=0
  Sunset shot from Maui
Photo Credit: Flickr.com







Fitting right into what has been an unusual spring season here in the islands…our current weather circumstances are quite odd. The month of June is well known for its very regular trade wind flow, blowing like 91% of the time on average. I guess we’re moving into that little 9% window, or will be over the next several days. Glancing at this latest weather map, we see high pressure systems anchored far to the northwest, and about the same distance to the northeast. We see low pressure systems, with their associated frontal boundaries, moving into the area directly north of our islands. This in turn will weaken the trade wind producing high pressure ridge north of here. Thus, the ridge will be not only be eroded from the north, but also pushed southward towards Hawaii.

Returning to the unusual aspects of this weather pattern, it’s just that the trade winds aren’t “suppose” to exhibit this start and stop pattern, like they have most of the spring season…not in June, especially not in late June into early July! So, our trade winds are going to be taking a nose dive in strength, as the ridge uncharacteristically slides down over us. This wouldn’t be so unusual if it were December, or January, or even April…but it’s almost July folks. Light winds equate to very warm and sultry conditions here in Hawaii, down here in the tropics. This uncommon light wind episode will extend into the first several days of the new week ahead, with the models suggesting it will take until around next Wednesday or Thursday, before we feel the return of our cooling and refreshing trade winds.



As the aforementioned sultry conditions develop, we’ll see the bias for showers breaking away from the windward sides…moving over into the upcountry inland areas. We call this shift from a trade wind weather pattern – a convective weather pattern. The most common time for showers under such a regime, would be during the afternoon hours, into the early evenings. If the dynamics were different, we would expect localized heavy showers, but this time around, that won’t be the case. As a matter of fact, only light precipitation is expected, if at all, in most areas…at the atmosphere remains dry and relatively stable at this time.



What you have been reading above, is what I would call unusual for this time of year. Looking at what the computer models are describing as we move further into next week…"grades easily into very unusual, if not down right rare". They show a trough, with a cold front pushing down into the tropics, and moving over the islands. This definitely goes against the grain of climatology, the history of Hawaiian weather.  The long and short of all this is that the winds will be getting lighter, and there will be the chance of light showers…especially during the first half of the new week ahead.



Meanwhile, the second and third tropical cyclones of the season, in the eastern Pacific have spun up…taken on the tropical storm names Boris and Cristina. They are both heading more or less straight westward, and aren’t expected to reach hurricane force. Here’s a storm tracking map, showing these storms in relation to the Hawaiian Islands. Here’s a picture of the storms from space, showing the classic counterclockwise swirl to them. There is no threat to the Hawaiian Islands at this time, however the remnant moisture, as they spin in our direction…may bring an increase in tropical showers to the Aloha state by next weekend.



~~~  Last night after work I went to see the new film called Wanted (2008), starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, among others. This is a fast paced, crackling thrill ride of a film, full of special effects, and lots of killing. Sorry, I’m sure many of you wonder what I find so fascinating with these kinds of films? What can I say for myself? I have no excuse…am guilty as charged, it’s just that I’m very drawn to seeing these kinds of explosive films for some reason. I have to say in good conscience, that I simply loved the film, it was outstanding, have to give it a B+ grade, and am wondering why I’m not giving it a full on A? It swept me away from the first moment, and had me laughing more than I have laughed in ages. It wasn’t so much that it was funny, although it certainly was, but really it was just so good in parts, that I couldn’t help but laugh! If you are the type of person who can keep this kind of movie in perspective, remembering that it is after all just a motion picture, then I could highly recommend it. If on the other hand, you have a weak stomach for these kinds of films, I would recommend staying at least 10,000 miles away from any theater showing this top notch action film. And then, oh my god, there was Angelina Jolie, her name was Fox in the film, and that name was absolutely well chosen! Here is the trailer for this excellent film.

~~~ It’s early Saturday evening here in Kula, Maui. It’s partly cloudy, although the main thing that I’m seeing is the very hazy skies, which likely consist of some volanic emission from the Big Island. As noted in one of the paragraphs above, the overlying atmosphere is not conducive for showers at this time. These relatively dry conditions are expected to last for another severals days. The unusual part of this whole thing is the light winds that we have going on now. At any rate, I went surfing this morning over on the Lahaina side of the island, and had a great time! I then headed over to the Paia side, stopping by the putting green in Spreckelsville, and was doing quite well, I must say. Then, it was down to Baldwin Beach, for a walk and swim. If you read this page much, you will know that I can get into quite a habit of doing very similar things each weekend, not to mention during the week days…fortunately they are good things! This evening I have no plans, and will just hang around the house, and take it easy. There’s an orchid sale in Haiku tomorrow morning, so I might take the drive over there, and see what I find. Otherwise, nothing much happening, I hope you have a great Saturday night wherever you happen to be! I’ll be back here Sunday morning with your next new update on what’s happening in the world of weather, here in paradise. Aloha for now…Glenn.

Since I have more time during the weekends, I like to share of few of my favorite songs, mostly from the past, since I haven’t been able to stay up on the current music scene. Lets start of with some great voices, and see where it goes as we move into Saturday night.

Sarah Smile…Hall & Oates 

In too Deep…Genesis
Another Sad Love Song…Tony Braxton