Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Friday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79
Honolulu airport, Oahu – 79
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Molokai airport – 80
Kahului airport, Maui – 83 (Record high temperature on this date – 88F – 1953)
Kona airport – 81
Hilo airport, Hawaii – 79
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops…as of 5pm Friday evening:
Kailua-kona – 80
Hilo, Hawaii– 73
Haleakala Crater – 48 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea – 41 (near 13,800 feet on the Big Island)
Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live web cam on the summit of near 13,800 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. Here's the Haleakala Crater webcam on Maui…which is working only sometimes lately.
Aloha Paragraphs
Lighter winds with generally dry weather –
rough surf north and west shores…becoming
inordinately large by next Wednesday –
showers increasing after this weekend –
followed by cool northerly winds by Wednesday
As this weather map shows, we have weak near 1016 millibar high pressure system over the islands…with its associated ridges running east and west. At the same time, we have a 1004 millibar gale low pressure system to the north of the islands, with its associated long cold front extending a short distance west from its center. Our winds will light and variable into the weekend, blowing from various directions…locally a bit stronger.
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph), along with directions Friday evening:
17 Port Allen, Kauai – W
18 Kahuku, Oahu – WNW
08 Molokai – W
09 Kahoolawe – NE
14 Lipoa, Maui – WNW
12 Lanai – W
15 Kawaihae, Big Island – WNW
We can use the following links to see what’s going on in our area of the north central Pacific Ocean Friday evening. Looking at this NOAA satellite picture we see just a few low clouds over the ocean to the east of the state, congregating mostly around the Big Island at the time of this writing. We can use this looping satellite image to see just a few lower level clouds…generally offshore. We can see an area of more major clouds moving by to the northeast as well. Checking out this looping radar image we see just a few light showers, generally over the ocean to the south and southeast of the Big Island. The southeast side of the Big Island was getting just a few light showers at the time of this writing.
Here are the 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of Friday afternoon:
0.01 Kilohana, Kauai
0.03 St. Stephens, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.15 Puu Kukui, Maui
0.25 Pahoa, Big Island
Sunset Commentary: The latest computer models continue to show our local winds easing up into the weekend. This will occur as a cold front pushes closer, nudging our high pressure ridge down over the islands…and in turn stopping the trade winds from blowing across our tropical latitudes. The lighter winds will put us into modified convective pattern, with clear and cooler than normal mornings, giving way to localized cloudy afternoons, with just a few light sprinkles or a shower over the leeward slopes in places. As we push into the second half of the weekend, into the first part of next week, we'll find a moderately strong cold front approaching, likely moving down into the state during the first part of the new work week between Monday and Tuesday…bringing showery weather. Cooler northerly winds will fill in behind the cold front, bringing chilly air into the state for a few days.
Larger than normal surf has been breaking along our north and west shores lately, with a new northwest swell arriving during the day today, followed by yet another large swell late Sunday into Monday. This late weekend swell may trigger high surf warning level waves. Looking even further ahead, towards the middle of the new week we are expected to see yet another very large northwest swell. Fortunately, the south shores aren't seeing these large waves breaking, so that these beaches will be much more user friendly to the ordinary citizen wanting gentle beach conditions. The surf community, especially those big wave riders…are rejoicing in these winter high surf conditions however!
This evening, as is most often the case, I'll be heading to Kahului to see a new film. This week its the one called Tinker Tailor Soldier Boy, starring Gary Oldman, Kathy Burke, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch…among many others. This film is getting mixed reviews, although the fact that film rating website rotten tomatoes gave it a good strong 84% rating encourages me to see it. The synopsis: based on the classic novel of the same name, the international thriller is set at the height of the Cold War years of the mid-20th Century. George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a disgraced British spy, is rehired in secret by his government – which fears that the British Secret Intelligence Service, a.k.a. MI-6, has been compromised by a double agent working for the Soviets. It's a long two plus hour film, being called a mystery and suspense, and of course drama. I've been wanting to see this film ever since I saw the trailer at the theater, and despite the fact that there are a whole host of great films playing, I want to pick this one off before it goes away. I'll certainly let you know my thoughts on this film Saturday morning. Here's the trailer for this film, just in case you're curious.
Here in Kula, Maui at 530pm HST, we had kona breezes, with mostly clear skies…and an air temperature of 65F degrees. As noted above, our weather will remain dry for the most part through much of the upcoming weekend. Our weather will remain rather easy going, with generally light and variable winds as we get into the weekend, which may allow some haze to begin forming in places. As a matter of fact, we're beginning to see some volcanic haze (vog) already showing up now. The latest computer forecast models continue to show a cold front or two approaching the state later this weekend into the first part of next week, which should bring a period of unsettled weather between Monday and Wednesday. This period looks to be our best shot at finally getting some decent rainfall over our dry state. One of these fronts will pass down through the state, bringing increased clouds and showers, and also gusty south to southwest kona winds ahead of it. Likely everywhere in the state will pick up some of this moisture, which would be a good thing, given our current dry to very conditions in many areas. It's interesting to note that the models are showing a strong push of cool northerly winds funneling down across the state in the wake of the cold front's passage. This will catch everyone's attention, as we'll definitely get a winterized punch of air passing across the state from more northern latitudes than normal! ~~~ I'll be back again early Saturday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise, I hope you have a great Friday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.
Extra: music video…Let's Dance
Interesting: "Any Motor manufacturer without a compelling line up of electric vehicles [by 2025] is signing its death warrant." This is an unequivocally bold assertion, but not one made by any government, EV manufacturer, media source or advocacy group, but rather, by the independent consulting and research organization IDTechEX, who claim to be the only analyst with 18 current reports — continuously updated — forecasting sales of electric vehicles and their components.
IDTechEx has been tracking developments in the electric vehicle market for the last eleven years by touring the world’s companies, research institutes and conferences to gain insights into key technology changes and business opportunities in the EV market.
They have just published their new 2012 forecast with a 10 year horizon, and whether you like EVs or not — their take is that they are here to stay. Overall, IDTechEX's report is very bullish about the future of EVs. Even so, they mention that the price premium of electric vehicles and hybrids must become small to non existent to be successful, and the electric-only range of vehicles must be a useful one — not a token gesture — to be compelling.
Interesting2: To help increase the supply of photovoltaic materials and technologies for the growing global market for solar energy, the world's largest producer of solar panels has signed a strategic agreement with DuPont. The agreement focuses on technology advancements, supply chain optimization cost reduction initiatives, and DuPont™ Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride film supply. The companies are also pursuing co-marketing opportunities.
Their goal is to achieve faster and broader adoption of solar energy to reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels. They intend to achieve the goal by further improving the technology for solar energy, helping to reduce its costs, and building greater awareness of its benefits to consumers.
"We're partnering with leading photovoltaic component suppliers around the world as we continue to make solar affordable for everyone, everywhere. With innovative companies like DuPont, the United States is a major contributor to the global photovoltaic supply chain and a net exporter of solar products to China and global markets," said Eric Luo, senior vice president of global supply chain at Suntech.
"Creating higher efficiency solar cells and further extending the long life of solar modules is critical to achieving affordable solar power, and we've worked closely and very successfully with DuPont in this regard. We’re taking our collaboration to the next level with this agreement." In November 2011, Suntech recognized DuPont with its annual Supplier Excellence Award for providing superior supply and technical service, product innovation, and collaboration.
DuPont supplies DuPont™ Solamet® photovoltaic metalization pastes to help enhance the efficiency of solar cells made by Suntech, as well as DuPont™ Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride film used in protective backsheets for Suntech solar modules.
These materials are part of DuPont's broad and growing portfolio of products that improve the efficiency and lifetime of solar cells and modules, and help reduce overall system costs to make solar more competitive with traditional sources of energy.
They are represented by DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, which connects science and technology from across the company on a global scale to help support the dramatic growth in the photovoltaic industry. "DuPont and Suntech have the highest standards for product quality, and sustainability is an important value for each of us.
With these shared values, we look forward to bringing our offerings to more consumers as the global industry continues to grow," said David B. Miller, president of DuPont Electronics & Technologies. "Global partnerships, such as our work with Suntech, have been central to the solar industry's growth. Our work together in Masdar is a prime example of the benefits of our collaboration and of solar energy."
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