June 27-28, 2009
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday afternoon:
Lihue, Kauai – 83
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 82
Kahului, Maui – 86
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-kona – 87
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountains…at 5 p.m. Saturday evening:
Port Allen, Kauai – 86F
Hilo, Hawaii – 77
Haleakala Crater – 55 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 48 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)
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:
0.87 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.48 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.06 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.93 Glenwood, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1031 millibar high pressure system system to the northeast of the islands, with a ridge extending from the western flank of this high…into the area north and northwest of Kauai. The trade winds will remain active Sunday and 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. Finally, here’s a looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. 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
Sunset Hula
The trade winds will remain rather gusty through the weekend into early in the new work week ahead…then calming down Tuesday through Thursday. A high pressure system far to the northeast of the state will be the source of our trade wind flow now. The latest computer forecast models continue to suggest that trade wind speeds will calm down starting Tuesday, remaining lighter than normal through about Thursday. As we move into Friday, and the 4th of July holiday weekend, those trade winds should pick up again…helping to ventilate whatever fireworks smoke that’s around then.
Rainfall will generally be light and most active along our windward sides, with just a few stray light showers being carried over into the leeward sides locally. As the trade winds become lighter during the new week ahead, we will likely see some increase in afternoon showers…especially over and around the interior sections. There are no organized shower areas on our horizon however, so nothing too unusual is expected in terms of precipitation. The strengthening trade winds Friday into next weekend, will bring the shower activity back around to the windward sections.
Early winter storms in the southern hemisphere continue to send us summer south swells…impacting the south and west facing leeward beaches of Hawaii. The NWS forecast office in Honolulu, has high surf advisories active along most of our south facing shores. The wave forecast models suggest that these waves will be around through the next week, at least. Folks who aren’t familiar with these larger than normal waves, should exercise caution when entering the ocean. There may be some waves breaking in channel entrances as well, so small boaters should be careful as well.
Saturday was a pretty typical early summer day, at least in terms of our weather conditions around the state of Hawaii. The trade winds blew just about everywhere, with the ocean surface around the islands full of wind driven white caps. The coconut palm trees were swaying to and fro as well, with a bit of dust blowing around the edges too. At the same time, there were some high cirrus clouds streaking across island skies overhead, especially around Kauai and Oahu, as seen on this looping satellite imagery. We can see that there are a minimum amount of incoming showers heading for the windward sides at the same time.
It’s Saturday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this last paragraph of today’s narrative. I drove over to the Paia side this morning for my once every eight week haircut. I did a little shopping there, before driving over to Wailuku to conduct some business that I had to attend to. I had to skip Baldwin Beach, but enjoyed having lunch with my neighbors, once I got back to Kula, before relaxing a bit during the afternoon hours. It was really sunny and warm upcountry, a bit too warm for my liking, I must admit. The high clouds are shifting towards Oahu and Kauai this evening, which should put the sunset colors over those two islands. I’ll be back Sunday morning with your next new narrative, wishing you a great Saturday night until then! This Saturday night, here on Maui, I’ve been watching old Michael Jackson video’s, which continue to be some of my favorite of all times! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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