Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday:
Lihue, Kauai – 86 (record for Saturday – 89 in 1981)
Honolulu airport, Oahu – 86 (record for Saturday – 93 in 1986)
Kaneohe, Oahu – 82
Molokai airport – 86
Kahului airport, Maui – 86 (record for Saturday – 92 in 1951, 1997, 1979)
Kona airport 85
Hilo airport, Hawaii – 82
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops…as of 5pm Saturday evening:
Port Allen, Kauai – 84
Kaneohe, Oahu – 78
Haleakala Crater – 57 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea Summit – 43 (over 13,500 feet on the Big Island)
Here are the 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of Saturday evening:
0.83 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.56 Manoa Valley, Oahu
0.07 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.42 Puu Kukui, Maui
0.45 Kawainui Stream, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1023 millibar high pressure system to the north, and another 1024 millibar cell to the northeast of our islands. Our local trade winds will remain active through Monday…strongest around Maui and the Big Island.
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. 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 web cam on the summit of near 13,500 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 web cams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon shining down during the night at times. Plus, during the nights you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise and sunset 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. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Here's a tropical cyclone tracking map for the eastern and central Pacific.
Aloha Paragraphs
Trade wind weather continues
The trade winds will continue…moderately strong into the new week. Glancing at this weather map, we find a moderately strong 1023 millibar high pressure system to the north of the islands, with a 1024 millibar high pressure cell far to the northeast. These high pressure areas and their associated ridges will provide steady trade winds, becoming more gusty around the Big Island…and perhaps Maui locally too.
Our trade winds will remain active…the following numbers represent the strongest gusts (mph), along with directions Saturday evening:
23 Port Allen, Kauai – NE
20 Bellows, Oahu – NE
30 Molokai – NE
27 Kahoolawe – ESE
22 Lipoa, Maui – NE
27 Lanai – E
22 Upolu Point, Big Island – NE
We can use the following links to see what’s going on in our area of the north central Pacific Ocean Saturday night. Looking at this NOAA satellite picture we find low level clouds in most directions, many of which are being carried through the islands. We can use this looping satellite image to see those lower level clouds approaching from the east. We can also find what's left of old Fernanda, the leftover spin to our southeast, which will move by south of the islands Sunday into early Monday. There are high clouds coming up from the south, and more approaching from the west too. Checking out this looping radar image we see showers falling locally, some of which are being carried over the windward sides in places…on the trade wind flow.
Sunset Commentary: High pressure to the north and northeast of the islands is the driving force for our moderately strong trades now. These will continue Sunday into the new work week ahead. As the weak circulation from former tropical cyclone Fernanda moves by to the south of the state later this weekend…the winds may become temporarily stronger and gusty from Maui down through the Big Island.
We'll see an increase in showers Sunday, as the showers to the north of the weak circulation of dissipated tropical cyclone Fernanda…moves by to the south of the state. The windward side the Big Island will begin to see increased rainfall already tonight, which could be locally quite generous at times through Sunday night. Maui's windward side could be just far enough south that it too could see an increase in showers.
Here’s a satellite image showing what's left of former Fernanda in relation to the Hawaiian Islands…not too far southeast of the Big Island. Here’s the same picture with the looping feature on. This retired system should be able to bring the southern part of the island chain some moisture…starting later tonight, and lasting for a day or so. Fairly normal trade wind weather conditions will follow by Monday, through the new week.
Then, far to our east, in the eastern Pacific, we have tropical depression Greg…which will be weakening further as he runs over cooler sea surface temperatures. It will remain far away from our islands…staying safely in the eastern Pacific. Here’s the latest NHC graphical track map for Greg. Here’s the latest NOAA satellite picture of nearly dissipated Greg. The Atlantic Ocean has lots of tropical activity as well…as shown in this satellite picture.
This past Thursday evening I went to see a new film, which will be nice after a big week of weather work. This new film was called Cowboys and Aliens, starring Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, and Harrison Ford…among many others. This film looked rather interesting, and somewhat surprising to me, it was. Daniel Craig stars as a Wild West gunslinger who leads a fight for survival against a terror from beyond our world. I mean, how bad could a film be with such an unusual context? The critics are giving it a B- grade, with the viewers are upping that slightly to a B. I was in the mood, as I almost always am by the end of a long work week, to be entertained. As it turned out, this was a big film, long and full of action, which I enjoyed more than I thought I was going to. It was a bit far fetched at times, especially when it came to the monsters, but whatever. I feel comfortable giving it a good solid B grade, and more than that, I'm glad that I saw it! Here's the trailer for this film.
Here in Kula, Maui at near 5pm HST Saturday evening, skies were partly to mostly cloudy, with an air temperature of 69.3F degrees. As noted above, the showers from retired Fernanda will arrive tonight into Sunday on the Big Island. Maui should see some of this arriving early Sunday into the day as well, although not as many. The largest part of this will be restricted to the Big Island's windward sides, which could see some locally heavy precipitation. ~~~ I went down to Paia today and had planned on getting into the ocean, although found cloudy skies, light rain falling, and windy weather too. I made a quick executive decision, and decided to skip it. I then went shopping at the health food store, and just came back home for the afternoon. I got invited to attend an art opening in Makawao this evening, so will likely go see the art work and socialize some. Who knows I may then go out for Pizza there in Makawao afterwords. I'll play it by ear, and will certainly be back here in the morning with your next weather narrative. I hope you have a great Saturday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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