Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday:
Lihue, Kauai – 80
Honolulu airport, Oahu – 80
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Molokai airport – 81
Kahului airport, Maui – 82 (Record high temperature on this date – 87F – 1950)
Kona airport – 80
Hilo airport, Hawaii – 81
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops…as of 9pm Saturday evening:
Kailua-kona – 74
Hilo, Hawaii – 68
Haleakala Crater – 41 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea – 32 (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
Light-moderate winds with localized showers –
wind advisory over the Big Island summits –
two weak fronts will bring localized showers into Sunday –
rough surf north and west shores…becoming
dangerously large during the first half of the new week –
showers increasing again on Tuesday, with a final cold front –
followed by cool northerly winds Wednesday into Thursday…
then smaller surf and improved weather thereafter
As this weather map shows, we have a near 994 millibar developing storm low pressure system to the northeast of the islands, with another 966 millibar storm low pressure system far to the north-northwest….with its approaching cold front. At the same time, we have a weak high pressure system far to the east-northeast…with its associated ridge of high pressure running southwest to the south of the Big Island. Our winds will light and variable, blowing from various directions…locally a bit stronger.
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph), along with directions Saturday evening:
15 Port Allen, Kauai – NW
13 Kahuku, Oahu – SW
00 Molokai
21 Kahoolawe – WNW
12 Kapalua, Maui – SW
10 Lanai – WNW
07 South Point, Big Island – W
We can use the following links to see what’s going on in our area of the north central Pacific Ocean Saturday evening. Looking at this NOAA satellite picture we see just a few low clouds over the ocean in all directions…with generally clear skies over the islands this morning. We can use this looping satellite image to see just a few lower level clouds…generally offshore. We can see areas of more major clouds moving by to the northeast and northwest as well. Checking out this looping radar image we see very few light showers, generally over the ocean offshore from the islands at the time of this writing.
Here are the 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of Saturday evening:
0.50 Puu Lua, Kauai
0.22 Makaha Stream, Oahu
0.01 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.00 Maui
0.10 Hilo airport, Big Island
Sunset Commentary: The latest computer models continue to show our local winds remaining generally on the lighter side tonight from variable directions. This will occur as a weak cold front pushes down into the state as far as Maui tonight into Sunday. As we push into Sunday, we'll find a a second slightly stronger cold front reaching the state, which will merge with whatever is left of the first one. The third in this series of cold fronts will reach the islands Tuesday, ending up near the Big Island early Wednesday morning. Cooler northerly winds will fill in behind this third cold front, bringing chilly air into the state for a day or two. The computer models then predict that our weather will moderate, with drier and warmer trade winds returning thereafter.
Larger than normal surf has been breaking along our north and west shores lately, although will be lower in size today, before yet another large swell begins arriving later tonight. There will be a couple of northwest swells arriving, which will warrant close attention, especially for those folks who live along the beaches of our north and west shores! Part of the problem, besides the great size of this much higher than normal swell activity, will be the high tides that will occur during this episode. During this period between Sunday and next Wednesday we'll see high surf advisories and high surf warnings being in force, with extremely hazardous surf levels occurring. This is serious business, and beach goers and property owners should be exercising great caution. 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…may be able to put these winter high surf conditions to good use!
Friday evening, as is most often the case, I drove to Kahului to see a new film. This week was 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 with suspense, and of course a drama. I had 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 wanted to pick this one off before it goes away. To tell you the truth, I found this film to be interesting, although I had a very difficult time following what the heck was going on. I went with two of my neighbors, both astrophysicists, and none of us had a clue of what was going on for the most part. Nonetheless, I liked the acting, and the darkness of the film, but I'd have a very hard time giving it a grade, which is unusual. I'd be curious about what anyone else thought about this film. Here's the trailer, just in case you're curious.
Here in Kula, Maui at 10pm HST, we have calm winds, with mostly clear skies, no volcanic haze…and an air temperature of 57.6F degrees. Our weather remained nice today, although a weak cold front is pushing our way to the north, and should bring localized showers to parts of the state into Sunday…as it stalls near Maui County. Here's a satellite image of this rather feeble frontal cloud band moving down through the island chain. The latest computer forecast models continue to show a second cold front reaching Kauai later Sunday morning, which should bring a few more showers during the day. then, an even stronger cold front arrives during the day Tuesday, which looks to be our best chance at finally getting some decent rainfall over our dry state. Likely everywhere in the state will pick up some of the moisture from this third frontal passage, which will 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 with this cold front's passage. This will likely catch our attention, as cooler air rushes into the state on those gusty northerly breezes for a day or two. ~~~ This narrative got out late this evening, as I had a good hike up on the slopes of the Haleakala Crater this afternoon, and had dinner afterwards. The day here on Maui was really great up on Haleakala, with clouds forming over the lower elevations. I was with a friend, and we had a great time. I'll be back Sunday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise. 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."
Email Glenn James: 
Dave Mills Says:
Glenn
A far superior version staring Alec Guiness came out in 1979. I would highly recommend it to you. Try the library they might have a copy.
Dave Mills~~~Hi Dave, thanks for the tip, Aloha, Glenn