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

79  Lihue, Kauai
82  Honolulu, Oahu
81  Molokai
85  Kahului, Maui
83  Kona, Hawaii
81  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 Monday evening:

 

Kailua Kona – 78
Hilo, Hawaii – 71


Haleakala Summit –   39 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea Summit – 30 (13,000+ 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 – if it’s working.

 


Aloha Paragraphs


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Trade winds continuing through Friday, then weakening during
the weekend…with a cold front pushing through the state
Saturday night into Sunday

Windward showers, arriving in an off an on manner…with a
few afternoon upcountry showers locally too

Small Craft Wind Advisory…over those windiest coasts and
channel waters around Maui County and the Big Island

High Surf Advisory...north and west shores of Kauai, Oahu,
Molokai, and north shores of Maui

 




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

22  Port Allen, Kauai – NE
25  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE
24  Molokai – NE
32  Lanai – NE
31  Kahoolawe – SE
28  Kahului, Maui – NE
31  PTA Keamuku, Big Island – NE


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

0.65  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.48  Poamoho RG 1, Oahu
0.36  Molokai
0.10  Lanai
0.02  Kahoolawe
0.69  Puu Kukui, Maui
1.40  Honaunau, 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 ~~~



Moderately strong trade winds lasting through Friday…then lighter during the weekend. Here’s the latest weather map, showing the Hawaiian Islands, and the rest of the Pacific Ocean. We find high pressure systems far to the northeast of the state, with the tail-end of an associated ridge extending southwest…well to the north of Hawaii. At the same time we see a deep storm low pressure system far northwest, with an associated cold front draping down, located far northwest of our islands. Finally, we see a surface trough of low pressure, oriented northwest to southeast near Kauai. ~~~ Our local winds will rebound from the trade wind direction through the rest of this work week. Our Christmas holiday will have moderately strong trade winds blowing. An approaching cold front later Friday into the weekend, will cause our winds to become lighter.

We’ll find some showers at times, generally along the windward sides during the night and early morning hours. Satellite imagery shows hardly any clouds around the islands, although there were still some over the interior sections, which will evaporate during the night. Here’s the looping radar image, showing that there are some showers being carried towards the windward sides of the islands from Oahu down through Maui County to the Big Island…at the time of this writing. A few of these showers may end up being somewhat generous over the eastern side of the state tonight into early Tuesday morning.

We’ll be moving into a fairly typical, early winter trade wind weather pattern now. However, there may be more than the normal amount of passing showers over some of our windward sections tonight…especially on the eastern islands. There’s now a high degree of certainty that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will have favorably inclined weather conditions. Looking further ahead, the models continue showing another cold front approaching the state later Friday into the weekend. The models show this front moving down into the state, bringing its associated showery weather…although nothing too heavy is expected. We have time to access with more detail, what this next cold front will end up doing for us, stay tuned. I’ll be back early Tuesday morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Monday night wherever you’re spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.



World-wide tropical cyclone activity:


Atlantic Ocean: The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Here’s the 2013 hurricane season summary


Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean

Caribbean Sea:

Gulf of Mexico:

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: The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15th through November 30th. Here’s the 2013 hurricane season summary


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: The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Here’s the 2013 hurricane season summary


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: Tropical cyclone 04S (Bruce) is now dissipating in the South Indian Ocean. Here’s a JTWC graphical track map…along with a satellite image – Final Warning

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



Interesting: Out with the old and in with the new–light bulbs that is! – As of January 1, 2014, 60 and 40 watt incandescent bulbs will no longer be manufactured or sold in the United States. Retailers will sell out what is on their shelves and not restock incandescents. George W. Bush signed the phase-out, which was called for by The Energy Independence and National Security Act, in 2007. The bill also includes improvements in energy efficiency for lighting and appliances many of which have been in stores for several years.


Consumers will benefit financially. The transition is better environmentally, as well; making it a win, win for all. Incandescent light bulbs presently make up for over half of all bulbs purchased but are inefficient, turning about 90 percent of the energy they consume into heat, not light. 75 and 100 watt incandescent bulbs have been phased out over the last two years.


According to Noah Horowitz, Senior Scientist and Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency for the Natural Resource Defense Council, the phase out will save Americans $13 billion on their annual energy bills.


Alternatives to the incandescent bulbs include the following:


Philips SlimStyle LED — Currently under consideration for ENERGY STAR certification, the SlimStyle LED bulb reduces energy consumption by 85 percent and lasts 25 times longer than a traditional 60-watt incandescent. It is dimmable, brighter and delivers a softer white light than CFLs. It is safer and lighter weight. The SlimStyle is available exclusively at HomeDepot.com starting January 2, 2014, just in time for the final phase out.


CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) — CFLs were the first alternative to incandescent light bulbs. Now it has been learned that LEDs are better and will last longer, yet the high initial investment puts them out of reach for most people. CFLs are widely available in grocery and convenience stores. They come in a spiral shape and A-line. If broken they can be hazardous to your health and disposal is difficult.


Energy-Efficient Soft White bulbs by GE — If you’re completely devastated by the idea of switching to those newfangled CFLs or LEDs, GE’s Energy-Efficient Soft White bulbs will ease your transition. They look and light exactly like the bulbs you grew up with, only they use 28 percent less energy.