Hawaiian Islands Weather details & Aloha paragraphs / October 17-18, 2011

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Monday:  

Lihue, Kauai –                   83
Honolulu airport, Oahu –     86  
Kaneohe, Oahu –               83
Molokai airport –                81
Kahului airport, Maui –       87  (record high for the date – 93 in 1950)  
Kona airport                      79
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 Monday evening:

Honolulu, Oahu – 81
Princeville, Kauai – 75

Haleakala Crater –     52 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea Summit – 45 (over 13,500 feet on the Big Island)

Here are the 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of Monday evening:

1.99     Mount Wailaleale, Kauai
0.76     Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.10     Molokai
0.00     Lanai
0.00     Kahoolawe
0.40     West Wailuaiki, Maui
1.09     Kealakekua, 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 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. This web cam is 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. The Haleakala Crater webcam on Maui just came back online, after being on the blink for several weeks.

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

Generally clear mornings, cloudy afternoons, with a
few showers…increasing locally Wednesday-Thursday
 

 

Our trade winds will be easing up now…taking on a more southeasterly orientation through mid-week.  Glancing at this weather map, it shows high pressure systems far to our northwest, and east-northeast…with low pressure systems to the west, north and northeast. At the same time, we find a cold front approaching the state from the northwest. The trade winds will gradually mellow out over the next several days, becoming southeast. As this low pressure system develops further to our northwest, with its associated cold front approaching closer Tuesday into Wednesday, these winds will slow down ahead it, then increase again around later Wednesday or Thursday…into the upcoming weekend.

Lighter winds will be prevail over the next several days…the following numbers represent the strongest gusts (mph), along with directions Monday evening:

08                 Lihue, Kauai – E
18                 Kahuku, Oahu – ENE
16                 Molokai – NNE
23                    Kahoolawe – SE
22                 Kahului, Maui – NE
07                 Lanai – NW
23                    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 Monday evening. Looking at this NOAA satellite picture we find stable looking low clouds surrounding the islands offshore…some of which will arrive along our windward sides during the night.  We can use this looping satellite image to see a large counterclockwise rotating low pressure system well to our west. There are also lots of thunderstorms far south and southwest of Hawaii, in the deeper tropics. These thunderstorms are beginning to send high cirrus clouds closer to Hawaii. Checking out this looping radar image we see showers over the ocean, with a few impacting our islands locally.

Sunset Commentary:   As we've moved through this first day of the work week, we find some changes happening, with more on tap as we push through the week. The most notable thing today was occurring in the marine environment, where rising waves are breaking along our east and south shores primarily. The largest of this swell activity is impacting the east shores, with the north shores a little smaller. At the same time we have a late season south swell that was generated about a week ago, down in the southern hemisphere. This will bring a modest rise to our south shores, with the west sides finding the smallest surf. A high surf advisory currently covers the eastern shores…which will continue through Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the trade winds are breaking down, although were still at least somewhat active this evening. This easing up of the trade winds is being prompted by the influence of a low pressure system to our west-northwest…as shown on this weather map.  The forecast calls for these winds to veer around to the east and then all the way around the compass to the southeast. This lighter wind flow from the southeast will shift us into a modified convective weather pattern. This means that skies will dawn quite clear typically, and slightly cool through probably Wednesday or Thursday morning. The afternoon hours, especially along the leeward slopes will cloud up quite a bit, thanks to the sea breezes blowing upslope. The best chances for showers, some of which could be locally heavy on both Kauai and Oahu, would be Wednesday and Thursday.

As the trade winds return later Thursday or Friday, the bias for showers will shift back over the windward coasts and slopes, generally during the cooler night and early morning hours. The computer models have continued to differ in their outlooks for the second half of the week. At various times during the last week, there has been suggestions of a cold front coming into the state. There’s also been intimations of an upper level low pressure system edging over, or near the state too. There continues to be some questions in this regard, although recently, the models are more firmly forecasting the chance of heavy showers popping up over and around Kauai and Oahu…with less intense showers over the rest of the state.

Here in Kihei, Maui at around 530pm HST Monday evening, skies were partly to mostly cloudy, with light to moderately strong trade winds blowing. The thickest clouds were stacked-up over and around the Haleakala Crater, and the West Maui Mountains too. These clouds will form each afternoon in the same places, while the beaches will be mostly sunny during the morning hours. As noted above, the winds will be lighter through the next several days, helping to form those those afternoon cumulus clouds.

~~~ As I've been mentioning here lately, today was my last work day in Kihei, before I head out on my autumn vacation. I'll be flying to northern California Tuesday, and be gone through November 11th. The forecasts for all areas in the state will continue to be available, by clicking on any of the islands in the upper left hand margin. As usual, I'll be writing observations during my vacation, and posting them here. They won't typically be on a daily basis, although as I can, and have a computer available, I'll periodically let you know what's going on.

~~~ I'll be back in the morning to sign off, and with some further detail about my upcoming travels. I hope you have a great Monday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.