Air Temperatures The following maximum temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Friday:

82  Lihue, Kauai
80  Honolulu, Oahu
84  Molokai
84  Kahului, Maui
84  Kona, Hawaii
82  Hilo, Hawaii


Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops on Maui and the Big Island…as of 743pm Friday evening:

 

Kailua Kona – 78
Hilo, Hawaii – 72


Haleakala Summit –  46
(near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea Summit – 39 (13,000+ feet on the Big Island)


Hawaii’s MountainsHere’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 – if it’s working.

 


Aloha Paragraphs


http://icons-ak.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/m/michaelsikovcom/150.jpg


Southeast to southwest winds strengthening, increasing
clouds…with
showers at times today into Sunday

There are unsettled weather arriving later today into
Sunday…most notably on the Kauai end of our
chain of islands.

Small Craft Wind Advisory…around Hawaiian waters

Flash Flood Watch…Kauai and Oahu


 



The following numbers represent the most recent top wind gusts (mph), along with directions as of Friday evening:

21  Port Allen, Kauai – SW
22  Kuaokala, Oahu – SE
17  Molokai – SE
31  Lanai – SW
16  Kahoolawe – NW
12  Hana, Maui – SW
27  South Point, Big Island – SW


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


0.78  Anahola, Kauai
0.99  Kuaokala, Oahu
0.10  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.05  Kahoolawe
0.52  Kaupo Gap, Maui
0.93  Glenwood, Big Island


We can use the following links to see what’s going on in our area of the north central Pacific Ocean. Here’s the latest NOAA satellite picture – the latest looping satellite image… and finally the latest looping radar image for the Hawaiian Islands.


~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~



Our winds are coming in from the southeast now, and will become stronger and gusty from the south to southwest Saturday. Here’s the latest weather map, showing the Hawaiian Islands, and the rest of the Pacific Ocean. We see a gale low pressure system not far northwest of the state, with its associated comma-shaped cold front. The winds ahead of this front will be gradually strengthening from the south and southwest as the front moves closer. These winds will eventually carry rich tropical moisture to parts of the state…with our air mass remaining quite sultry. As we move into the weekend, our winds will increase in strength…at least locally.


We’ll begin to see some showers falling tonight, being a transition period, with very rainy weather and gusty winds just up ahead…mostly on Kauai. 
Satellite imagery shows lots of clouds over and around the islands, while most of the showers were still located over the offshore waters…along with the heavier rain clouds associated with the low to the west of Kauai.  We can see the leading edge of the cold front over the ocean to our northwest, which will be the rainmaker being described above. Here’s the looping radar image, showing more numerous showers falling now…which are being carried into the islands on the southeast wind flow. 

As we get into the weekend, we’ll see unsettled weather conditions Saturday…as a cold front moves into the state. This surface cold front will arrive at about the same time as an upper level low pressure system moves overhead. This combination of weather features will prompt locally strong and gusty Kona winds, locally heavy rainfall, and a chance of a few thunderstorms. Kauai will have the front arriving first, then perhaps pushing down over Oahu…although the models show the front stalling over Kauai at the moment. As is often the case, Kauai and maybe Oahu will have the most dynamic aspects of this inclement weather, while Maui County and the Big Island will be just outside the most active precipitation zone. This is the current forecast challenge, knowing just how far the front will work its way into the state…stay tuned on Saturday. I’ll be closely following this upcoming wet weather situation, fine tuning the particulars as we go. ~~~ I’m on Oahu now, and will fly back to Maui Saturday morning. I have a computer to use, so I’ll be able to keep these weather narratives current. I hope you have a great Friday, wherever you’re spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Friday evening film: My friends here on Oahu want to go see a film later today, so of course I’m game. We’ll be seeing the film called The Book Thief, starring Sophie NelisseGeoffrey RushEmily WatsonBen SchnetzerNico Liersch…among many others. The synopsis: based on the beloved international bestselling book, The Book Thief tells the story of an extraordinary, spirited young girl sent to live with a foster family in WWII Germany. Intrigued by the only book she brought with her, she begins collecting books as she finds them. With the help of her new parents and a secret guest under the stairs, she learns to read and creates a magical world that inspires them all. ~~~ This film caught my eye as one of the trailers before a film I saw recently. I’ll of course let you know what I thought at some point tomorrow. In the interim, here’s the trailer for this dramatic film.



World-wide tropical cyclone activity:


Atlantic Ocean:
There are no active tropical cyclones


Here’s a
satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean


Caribbean Sea:
There are no active tropical cyclones

Gulf of Mexico:
There are no active tropical cyclone

Here’s a satellite image of the Caribbean Sea…and the Gulf of Mexico.

Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)

Eastern Pacific:
There are no active tropical cyclone


Here’s a wide satellite image that covers the entire area between Mexico, out through the central Pacific…to the International Dateline.


Central Pacific Ocean:
There are no active tropical cyclones


Here’s a link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)


Western Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones


South Pacific Ocean:
There are no active tropical cyclones


North and South Indian Oceans:
There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)


Interesting: Clean water filtration: basic necessity –
Clean water is a vital concern as many parts of the world struggle with its availability. Kenya is a prime example of a country on the edge. Kenya’s people have long struggled with lack of availability of fresh water creating hazardous health conditions.


According to the World Bank, the country’s population is well over 43 million people. The country is one of the poorest on the earth with one of the most arid climates. Only a small portion of the land is suitable for agriculture. Further, Natural resources available to Kenya do not support adequate or equitable delivery of water forcing people to spend many hours of each day, procuring water for basic sustenance.


For those lucky and strong enough to get water, the rate of exposure to pathogens are a massive problem due to the contamination of basins and pumps where water is collected.


Water issues in Ghana are similar where the population pushes 25 million. Only 13% of Ghana’s dense population has access to adequate sanitation facilities. Eighty percent of all of the diseases in Ghana are caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.


Moving westward the people of Honduras are also in the throws of a water crisis. An existing humanitarian crisis was exacerbated by Hurricane Mitch, in 1998 which devastated the country leaving 75% of it without safe drinking water. Because of the nation’s poverty, rebuilding continues to be slow forcing residents to depend upon contaminated water sources.


In response to the crisis, NativeEnergy of Burlington, VT has teamed up with National Geographic and REVERB, an environmentally driven music organization, to bring clean water to these people. The three part consortium has been responsible for the installation of more than 2,300 water filters in homes, rural watering holes and urban canals.


Added climatic benefits are that the need to burn firewood to boil water for sanitation is eliminated further reducing greenhouse gases.


NativeEnergy is the provider of carbon offsets which help finance projects like this, National Geographic’s participation provides educational, research and adventure trips that foster interest in the plight of countries like Kenya, Ghana and Honduras and REVERB is a musical community that engages musicians and their fans in environmental concerns globally.


Recipients of the water filters report a decrease in waterborne illnesses and the ability to apply money previously used to purchase firewood to education related expenses and entrepreneurial activities.