July 18-19, 2010
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday afternoon:
Lihue, Kauai – 82
Honolulu, Oahu – 86
Kaneohe, Oahu – 83
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 82
Kahului, Maui – 88
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-kona – 83
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 4pm Sunday afternoon:
Kahului, Maui – 84
Princeville, Kauai – 79
Haleakala Crater – 50 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 46 (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:
2.31 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
1.09 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.10 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.11 Kahoolawe
2.61 Puu Kukui, Maui
1.23 Kawainui Stream, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1034 millibar high pressure cell far to the north, which will keep the trade winds blowing, moderately strong…gradually becoming slightly lighter Monday into 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 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. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.
Aloha Paragraphs
Waipio Valley…Big Island
Photo Credit: Johnathan Esper
Our local trade winds will remain more or less in the moderately strong category Sunday night…and then begin to taper off a little for several days starting Monday. The local trade winds peaked in strength today, and will then become somewhat lighter than normal through the first half of the upcoming new work week. Wind speeds will be blowing in the 10-25 mph in general today, stronger in gusts at times. Glancing at the latest weather map, we see a moderating 1034 millibar high pressure system, located far to the north of the islands. As an upper level trough of low pressure moves overhead soon, it will help to weaken our trade wind flow.
Saturday was quite a cloudy and showery day, at least in many areas…which shifted to the drier side Sunday. We can expect more clouds and localized showers at times through the next several days. The computer forecast models continue to show an area of tropical moisture moving towards the state around mid-week into Thursday. If this were to make it up into the state, we could see unusual July rains, which we need badly. Here’s the looping radar image, so we can keep track of the incoming showers. Clicking on this larger view, we see more clouds taking aim on our windward sides…along with some high cirrus clouds to our west and southeast.
It’s Sunday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update. As noted above, we had some good old fashioned rain showers falling on Saturday, not everywhere, although many areas picked up quite a bit of water. This moisture backed off lots today, just showing us how our weather is always changing…as I try and keep up with it! It appears that we’ll see more of this off and on shower activity, which may become locally more generous as we move into the new work week…especially around Wednesday into Thursday. A surge of tropical moisture may bring rainfall to the Big Island with time, which may even stretch up into Maui County as well. These two islands are extremely dry, at least in the leeward areas, so it would be great news to have some rainall in these areas! ~~~ Here in Kula, Maui, it’s trying to get cloudy enough to shower again early this evening, although it’s happening way later in the day than yesterday. It may or not get a little wet here, although it looks more serious over towards the windward side, towards Makawao and Haiku. I had a really nice walk over towards Keokea this morning, although I’ve never seen it so crowded, as the weather was so nice I guess. I stayed home today, cooked a big soup for the coming work week, which I’ll eat along-side wild caught sardines and organic Colby cheese, on crackers. I did quite a bit of work, or what I think of as chores today, which always feels good to have behind me. I’ll meet you back here early Monday morning, I hope you have a great Sunday night! Aloha for now…Glenn.
Extra: It is that time of year when the Hawaiian Islands experience the astronomical phenomenon known as "Lahaina Noon."
That is when the sun is directly overhead at high noon. Hawaii is the only state in the nation to with this phenomenon, because it only happens in the tropics. It occurs twice a year at every location in the islands.
Lahaina Noon Dates, Times:
Kailua-Kona: July 24 ,12:30 p.m.
Hilo: July 24, 12:26 p.m.
Hana: July 19, 12:30 p.m.
Kahului: July 18, 12:32 p.m. – already happened
Lahaina: July 18, 12:32 p.m. – already happened
Lanai City: July 19, 12:33 p.m.
Kaunakakai: July 17, 12:34 p.m. – already happened
Honolulu: July 16, 12:37 p.m. – already happened
Kaneohe: July 15, 12:37 p.m. – already happened
Lihue: July 11, 12:42 p.m. – already happened
Because the sun is directly overhead, there are moments when a flagpole or structures will not cast a shadow.
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