March 20-21, 2010
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday afternoon:
Lihue, Kauai – 76
Honolulu, Oahu – 80
Kaneohe, Oahu – 76
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 73
Kahului, Maui – 78
Hilo, Hawaii – 71
Kailua-kona – 80
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level around the state – and on the highest mountains…at 4pm Saturday afternoon:
Port Allen, Kauai – 79F
Hilo, Hawaii – 71
Haleakala Crater – 50 (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 Saturday afternoon:
0.79 Mount Waialaele, Kauai
0.24 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.10 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
1.33 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.55 Kawainui Strean, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1026 millibar high pressure system to the north-northeast, moving eastward. The tail-end of a dissipating cold front is located to the east of the Big Island. The trade winds will gradually becoming lighter east-southeast to southeast breezes winds Sunday-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
Unusually large south swell…along our leeward beaches
A fairly typical trade wind weather pattern prevails this weekend, with generally nice weather conditions…although with some showers too. There are still quite a few clouds residing over the state now, although the atmosphere remains fairly stable. This IR satellite image shows variable clouds, along with an impressive area of high cirrus clouds to our south and to the north as well. If we take a look at this closer view, we can see the low level clouds hanging over some parts of the state. We can see also that there are still some showers falling, by switching over to this looping radar image…although they seem to be backing off as we move into Saturday night.
A high pressure system, now to the north-northwest of Hawaii, is keeping these trade winds blowing…keeping a slightly cooler than normal aspect to our weather for the moment. This weakening high pressure cell continues to move towards the east. As this high pressure cell migrates further eastward, the winds will gradually swing around to the more typical easterly trade wind direction on Sunday. As this happens, our local air temperatures will return to their more customary warmer reality during the days. The winds will eventually turn even further clockwise, ending up to the southeast by Monday.
The computer forecast models are showing another cold front approaching the state…during the first part of the upcoming new work week. The first influence here will be the slacking-off of the trade winds after the weekend, as they rotate around to the southeast. This could bring up another round of volcanic haze (vog) from the
It’s Saturday evening as I begin writing the last section of today’s narrative.
Saturday was our first day of the spring season…better known as the Vernal Equinox. I anticipate that our weather will be fairly decent again on Sunday, although with off and on showers occurring here and there. A convective weather pattern will unfold soon, with potentially rainy afternoons, lasting into the first couple of days of the new week ahead. Winds will be light, with likely some volcanic haze around then too. Don’t forget to heed the high surf advisory along our leeward beaches, where potentially dangerous waves will be breaking locally through Sunday.
~~~ My visiting friend Bob from California, and I went to see the new film Green Zone (2010) Friday evening, starring Matt Damon and Amy Ryan…among many others. A short synopsis: a rogue U.S. Army officer hunts through covert and faulty intelligence before war escalates in an unstable region. Bob and I both enjoyed this action film, and concurred that it deserved a solid B grade in our opinions. Here’s a trailer in case you are interested. We then went out for a great Thai dinner in Kahului afterwards, washing down the meal with a Chinese beer. ~~~ After a breakfast out this morning, at a good French restaurant here in Kula, Bob went over to the Makena area, and enjoyed watching the very large south swell waves that were breaking there. I drove down to Paia for some shopping, and then came back and tried to catch up on some domestic chores that I’ve been putting off. Bob came back up here, and after I finish these website updates, he and I are heading over to Maalaea Bay, where we have reservations for dinner at the Waterfront Restuarant. It’s situated right on the beach, so we’ll be able to see the surf breaking, and the Maalaea Harbor too. Then, and this is if we have the energy, we plan to head into Wailuku town, for a walk around to see a few of the open art galleries. We’ll be getting home late likely, so I’ll be hitting the hay here in Kula, and likely sleeping in a while on Sunday morning. We already have plans to take our neighbors out to breakfast in the morning, so Sunday is liable to be another full day of activites, before Bob flies back to California, and I go back to work on Monday. I hope that you have a great Saturday night wherever you happen to be spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.
Email Glenn James: 
