Hawaiian Islands weather details & Aloha paragraphs / December 27-28, 2009

December 27-28, 2009

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

Lihue, Kauai – 79
Honolulu, Oahu – 83
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 80
Kahului, Maui – 81
Hilo, Hawaii – 77
Kailua-kona – 81

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level around the state – and on the highest mountains…at 5pm Sunday evening:

Princeville, Kauai – 81F
Lihue, Kauai – 75

Haleakala Crater – 55 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 39 (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 morning:

0.03 Omao, Kauai  
0.01 Waimanalo, Oahu
0.00 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.00 Maui
0.00 Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1024 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands. Our winds will remain light from the east and southeast 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 this 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.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific – Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here.

Aloha Paragraphs

  Perfect Hawaiian weather

Weather here in the islands will be nice…through the first couple of days of the new work week ahead. We’ll find generally clear skies, punctuated by some cloudy periods locally. These few clouds will gather here and there, although with the overlying atmosphere being dry and stable…hardly any showers will fall. The air visibilities will become less clear and hazy over the next few days. The next major change in our local weather will arrive around the middle of the new week, when the next cold front brings showers to some parts of our islands then.

The breezes will be light southeast to east…lasting for a few days. As these southeast breezes occur, we’ll see volcanic haze being carried up over some parts of the island chain…from the volcanic vents down on the Big Island. Southeast breezes also put the smaller islands, from Maui to Kauai, in the wind shadow of the Big Island. As this light wind convective pattern continues, we often become, as noted, hazy, along with clear mornings giving way to some localized clouds, with just a few minor showers…if any at all.

It’s Sunday evening here on Maui, as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative.   As noted above, our weather is near perfect, with light winds and clear skies prevailing in most areas. There’s a bit of volcanic haze around locally, but it hasn’t gotten to be thick at this point…not that it might not become that way. Otherwise, there’s been a distinct lack of clouds, with hardly any showers falling anywhere. I expect more of the same as we begin our new work week. ~~~ A friend of mine gave me a single pint bottle of what’s called Hop Trip, which is described as a fresh hop pale ale. It’s from the Deschutes Brewery in Oregon, on the label it reads: "Obsessive longing and flawless execution converge. We wait restlessly all year for the hop harvest celebration. Our one chance to capture the bright citrus and pine essence of fresh hops. Hop driver and brewer synchronize their timepieces. Vine to kettle in less than four hours. Enjoy." I like the taste, and at 5.5% alcohol, it isn’t too strong to drink comfortably. ~~~ Looking out from my deck here in Kula, I see no clouds in any direction. There’s not a breath of air moving either. The sun is so warm and pleasant, making for such a very nice early evening. I’m looking forward to moving through the rest of this year, what with New Year’s Eve coming up, along with a Blue Moon (the second full moon of the month) that same night, it should be special. Today I stayed home and read quite a bit, washed my car, did my laundry, while listening to classical music, generally of Bach and Vivaldi, among others. I needed to pull back a little, as I’ve been go, go, go lately. I’ll meet you here early Monday morning, with your next new weather narrative. I hope you have a great Sunday night! Aloha for now…Glenn.