February 14-15, 2010
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday afternoon:
Lihue, Kauai – 77
Honolulu, Oahu – 82
Kaneohe, Oahu – 77
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 77
Kahului, Maui – 81
Hilo, Hawaii – 76
Kailua-kona – 82
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level around the state – and on the highest mountains…at 4pm Sunday afternoon:
Honolulu, Oahu – 79F
Lihue, Kauai – 74
Haleakala Crater – 52 (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 Sunday afternoon:
0.02 Poipu, Kauai
0.04 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.20 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.66 Puu Kukui, Maui
0.34 Glenwood, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems located far to the northeast and the west-northwest…with a ridge of high pressure running between the two, broken to the north of Kauai. This pressure configuration will keep trade winds blowing through Tuesday...although becoming lighter.
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 through the holiday Monday…although gradually becoming lighter. The placement of a ridge to our north will keep trade winds blowing across our tropical latitudes…although are on a downward trend now. This will be caused by the approach of a cold front into the mid-week time frame. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to see favorably inclined weather over the state, with relatively warm easterly trade winds blowing. The latest thought is that this fast moving frontal cloud band will speed through, although with limited windward biased shower activity. A surge of cooler air will arrive ahead of the frontal passage, and then of in its wake from the north and northeast…ushering in a brief bout of chilly weather.
The surf will remain active along the north and west facing beaches and along the south and east facing shores as well. The north and west shores are on the down trend in size now, although will find another new boost upwards, and new NW swell arrives Monday. The east shores will have some fairly minor waves breaking, generated by the lighter trade winds upstream of the islands. Meanwhile, the southern leeward beaches will find waves breaking, thanks to storms in the far southern hemisphere. These leeward beaches will find the next new impulse arriving Monday, which will keep the surf up, breaking generally in the small to lower medium size range through mid-week.
It’s Sunday evening, as I begin writing the last section of today’s narrative. Sunday has been one of those very special days, with lots of sunshine, and hardly any showers. Air temperatures were balmy today, topping out in the upper 70F’s, into the lower 80’s in those warmest leeward beach areas. Weather conditions will remain quite nice through the next few days. ~~~ It’s the Valentine Holiday today, and I’m sure everyone is getting into it, at whatever level it happens to be appropriate and fun. I hope you have had a great Valentines Day! I hung out at home, and had a nice visit with my neighbors. It’s around 5pm Sunday evening, and the air temperature up here in Kula, Maui, was reading a very comfortable 70.9 degrees. I’ll be back on Monday, ready to report about these great weather conditions that will be around on the holiday. I hope you have a great Sunday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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