February 13-14, 2010
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday afternoon:
Lihue, Kauai – 75
Honolulu, Oahu – 80
Kaneohe, Oahu – 76
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 75
Kahului, Maui – 78
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-kona – 81
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level around the state – and on the highest mountains…at 4pm Saturday afternoon:
Kailua-kona – 81F
Princeville, Kauai – 73
Haleakala Crater – 43 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 41 (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:
0.01 Port Allen, Kauai
0.24 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.10 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
1.02 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.34 Laupahoehoe, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems located far to the east-northeast and the west…with a ridge of high pressure running between the two, to the north of Kauai. This pressure configuration will keep trade winds blowing through the holiday on Monday.
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
Happy Valentines Day!
The trade winds will remain in place this weekend…through the upcoming holiday on Monday. The trade winds will prevail through the early part of the new week ahead, as they have been the last several days. This weather map shows high pressure centers far to the west, and far to the east-northeast, with a very long ridge extending between the two…running by to the north of
The computer models suggest that we’ll see little change in the trade wind strength, or direction into the new week. This will keep generally favorably inclined weather over the state, with relatively warm easterly trade winds blowing across our islands. The next change that will influence our local weather conditions, will arrive later this coming Tuesday evening into Wednesday. The computer models want to push a cold front down into our area then. The trade winds look like they will continue to blow, although perhaps a little lighter preceding the frontal passage. Then, we expect a surge of cooler air to arrive from the north and northeast…ushering in a brief bout of chilly weather. The models go on to suggest that these winds will calm down by next weekend, when we may see another cold front arriving in the state.
The surf will remain active along the north and west facing beaches and along the south and east facing shores as well…although it will be smaller there. The north and west shores will be on the receiving end of waves being generated by storms in the north Pacific. The east shores will have some fairly minor waves breaking, generated by the trade winds upstream of the islands. Meanwhile, the southern leeward beaches will find waves breaking, thanks to storms in the far southern hemisphere. This is all good news for our local water sports communities, who will be taking full advantage of these breaking waves and the wind! The surf will be slowly losing size as we move through this weekend, although will be around into the new week too, even on the south facing beaches…which is unusual for this winter month of February.
It’s Saturday evening, as I begin writing the last section of this morning’s narrative. There were more than the normal amount of clouds around Saturday, many of them were shower producers from the Big Island up through Oahu. Kauai remained to the north, and had a good start to the weekend.
~~~ I went to see a new film in Kahului after work Friday evening. I’d been looking forward to seeing this film for a while, called Crazy Heart (2009), starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall…among others. A short synopsis: Bad Blake (Bridges) is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road, and one too many drinks…way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean (Gyllenhaal), a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. As he struggles down the road of redemption, Bad learns the hard way just how tough life can be on one man’s crazy heart.
~~~ I found this piece of work to be classical country western, with all the props that go along with the territory. There was the down and out guy, with his smoking cigarettes, and drinking whiskey constantly, and that great music too. I really got into this film, and enjoyed seeing it very much. There’s a part of me that likes being taken out of my world here on Maui, and transported into a completely different reality…which this film did nicely. I could suggest you see this film, that is if you would enjoy getting out on the road for a while, and having too many drinks, and smoking ciggy’s like crazy. I’d be willing to give this a good solid B+ grade. Here’s a trailer for the film.
~~~ This morning I drove over to Haiku, over on the windward side of Maui. I joined some friends for a morning of zen meditation. Then, I headed down to Paia for a swim, and quite honestly I had to sort of force myself into the water. There was very few people at the beach in the first place, as it was cloudy, breezy, and there had been off and on showers. The sand was wet as I made my way to the waters edge. It was a good thing that I really wanted to have a dip, otherwise I could have easily been turned away by the chilly elements. There was no one else in that choppy ocean, but to tell you the truth, I’m delighted I pushed through my resistance to getting cold. I drove back upcountry to Kula, and found cloudy skies up here too…with a shower just a few minutes ago. Sometimes, well, just about all the time, its good to just do want you want to do, regardless of the weather conditions!
~~~ It’s the Valentine Holiday weekend, and I’m sure everyone is planning on getting into it, at whatever level it happens to be appropriate. I have a friend coming over soon, and will pop a nice bottle of red wine, and serve up a tasty dinner. I’d better get downstairs and get ready. I’ll be back Sunday, although not necessarily at the crack of dawn. I’m trying to get myself to sleep in a little bit on the weekends these days. I hope you have a great Saturday night, leading into a loving Valentines Day! Aloha, Glenn.
Email Glenn James: 
Dorothy McCoy Says:
My son Chris wrote you for jelly fish info, I have just marked my calender for the year, thank you. I have had such bad reactions have needed a Dr. and none have ever told me to be aware of the times they [jelly fish] may be in Maui waters..I will pass this info to my friends. One piece of advice is to run very hot water over the area touched as soon as possible. Again thanks Dorothy~~~Thanks Dorothy, glad to see you are addressing this issue, and hope you never have to have another jelly fish sting! Aloha, Glenn