June 28-29, 2009
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday afternoon:
Lihue, Kauai – 83
Honolulu, Oahu – 88
Kaneohe, Oahu – 82
Kahului, Maui – 85
Hilo, Hawaii – 83
Kailua-kona – 86
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountains…at 5 p.m. Sunday evening:
Port Allen, Kauai – 86F
Princeville, Kauai – 77
Haleakala Crater – 54 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 54 (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 Sunday afternoon:
0.23 Kapahi, Kauai
0.27 Manoa Valley, Oahu
0.07 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.25 Puu Kukui, Maui
0.22 Kealakekua, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1031 millibar high pressure system far to the northeast of the islands, with a ridge extending from the southwest flank of this high…into the area north of the Hawaiian Islands. The trade winds will remain active Monday and Tuesday…although become lighter.
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
Kaneohe Bay…windward Oahu
Trade winds dropping off in strength, remaining quite light through the work week…then gradually rebounding next weekend. A high pressure system far to the northeast of the state will be the source of our trade wind flow. The latest computer forecast models continue to suggest that trade wind speeds will relax in strength going forward, remaining lighter than normal through the next week. As we move into the 4th of July holiday weekend, those trade winds should pick up again gradually…helping to ventilate whatever fireworks smoke that will be around then.
The overlying atmosphere is rather dry and stable at the moment, with just a few windward biased showers falling at times. As the trade winds become lighter during the new week ahead, we’ll see a shift in showers, to over and around the interior sections during the afternoon hours. As we move into the second half of the week ahead, some of those afternoon showers may become locally heavy…especially over Maui and the Big Island. The gradually strengthening trade winds later next weekend, should 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 dropped the high surf advisory active along most of our south facing shores…along with the small craft advisory as well. 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. The next influx of larger south swell waves will arrive later Tuesday.
It’s Sunday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this last paragraph. Looking out through my weather tower windows this evening, I see mostly clear skies over along the windward sides. At the same time, looking overhead, it is cloudy, and we just had a very light smattering of sprinkles. It was pretty hot earlier this afternoon, although it quickly thereafter got cloudy, cooling the upcountry area down. I anticipate clearing once the sun goes down, leading to mostly clear skies here in Kula overnight…into Monday morning. ~~~ Speaking of Monday morning, that will be my first day back to work, after being gone to the mainland for nearly two weeks. I’m looking forward to getting back into my schedule, although I must admit it has been nice to pull back from the work scene too. ~~~ I stayed home all day, hanging out closely with my neighbors. I started the day off with a nice walk, and will likely take another one once I finish here. I’ll be back early Monday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise. I hope you have a great Sunday night from wherever you happen to be reading from! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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