Glenn James
Hawaii Weather Today
Creator, Author, and Administrator for 30 years

 

The latest update to this website was at 555am Thursday morning HST


Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands Thursday morning: 

0.18  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.73  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.32  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.58  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.35  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Thursday morning: 

16  Nawiliwili, Kauai – NE 
24  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – N
27  Makapulapai, Molokai – E
m   Lanai – m
39  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE
38  Kawaihae Rd, Big Island – NE


Hawaii’s MountainsHere’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of our tallest mountain Mauna Kea (~13,800 feet high) on the Big Island of Hawaii. Here’s the webcam for the (~10,023 feet high) Haleakala Crater on Maui (out of operation). These webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands, and at night whenever there’s a big moon shining down. Also, at night you will be able to see the stars, and the sunrise and sunset too…depending upon weather conditions.

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Big Blue…click twice for largest version

 

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 Thunderstorms southeast in the deeper tropics…Tropical cyclone 01C (Lala) east-southeast

 

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Low clouds arriving on the trade winds…high clouds southeast 

 

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Localized showers 

 

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Please open this link to see details on any current Watches, Warnings and Advisories noted above




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Hawaii Weather Narrative
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Glenn’s Thursday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

513am, it’s mostly clear here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 57 degrees…with the relative humidity 81%

 

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 705 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii

cone graphic

Key Messages:

1. Lala is forecast to strengthen and it could be near hurricane strength when it approaches the Big Island by early Saturday. A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the island. Winds are expected to be the strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.
2. Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Lala will begin to impact the Big Island Friday, spreading westward across the island chain during the weekend. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

3. Large and dangerous waves, especially on the Big Island, are expected this weekend, with the greatest impacts along the southern shores. This prolonged period of heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.

4. Interests in the smaller islands should monitor the progress of Lala, and Tropical Storm Watches could be required later today or Friday.

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Thursday morning: Increased trade winds through Friday, combined with dry conditions, will elevate the fire weather threat for the end of the work week. Meanwhile, occasional showers will favor windward and mountain areas through Friday. For the weekend, we should continue to monitor Tropical Storm Lala as it moves northwestward towards the main Hawaiian Islands.

Weather Narrative..as of Thursday morning: Satellite and radar imagery shows a few areas of low clouds and showers embedded within the trade winds moving into windward and mountain areas. However, rainfall overnight has been light, with only brief light showers passing through. Mostly dry conditions are expected to continue through today and much of the day on Friday as well, with windward and mountain areas experiencing scattered showers at times through Friday.

Meanwhile, episode 53 of lava fountaining in Halema’uma’u at the summit of Kilauea officially ended at 123am HST this morning. No further impacts from tephra emissions are expected over the next few days. Trade winds will gradually trend up for the next 48 hours, becoming breezy by tonight and locally strong on Friday.

The main forecast concern for the next few days will be potential impacts from what is now Tropical Storm Lala. As of 5am HST, Tropical Storm Lala was moving west around 9 knots (10 mph). Based on the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Layla is expected to move near the Big Island late Friday or early Saturday, then continue moving off to the northwest through the rest of the weekend, with the center of circulation remaining south of the smaller islands.

Impacts from Layla are expected to begin for the eastern end of the state as early as Friday night and will continue through the weekend, as it tracks northwestward. Interests within the main Hawaiian Islands should closely monitor for forecast updates and prepare for the potential impacts described below.

FIRE WEATHER…Fire weather concerns will increase on Friday ahead of the tropical cyclone’s arrival. Winds will begin to strengthen while a dry and stable air mass with low relative humidity moves overhead. This combination of lower relative humidity and increasing wind speeds will likely lead to high wildfire risk.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS…Winds could strengthen further on Saturday, though the timing, direction, and magnitude of the strongest winds remain highly dependent on the track and intensity of the system. With the past few cycles, the track forecast for Layla have nudged a bit farther south. However, even if the center of the system remains away from the islands, the north semicircle of the storm will still produce damaging winds. For now, confidence is highest in wind impacts for the Big Island and surrounding waters. Therefore, a Hurricane Watch has been issued for the Big Island and its surrounding waters. Although the official intensity forecast at this time from NHC keeps Lala as a high end Tropical Storm as it passes near the Big Island, there is enough uncertainty in the forecast to warrant the Hurricane Watch at this time.

HEAVY RAINFALL…This system could bring periods of heavy rainfall, particularly across east and southeast-facing slopes. Orographic (mountain) enhancement could result in locally higher rainfall totals where moist tropical flow interacts with island terrain. If heavier rainfall persists over the same locations, flash flooding and rapidly rising streams are possible. Again, the location of heaviest rain and any bands that would move through the islands will be highly dependent on the system’s track, which currently favors the highest rainfall totals for the Big Island and Maui County (though the remaining islands could also experience heavy rain bands as well). The current forecast has 5-10 inches of rain with locally higher amounts Friday through the weekend. As far as timing, heavy rainfall is currently forecast to impact the Big Island as early as Friday, spreading to Maui on Saturday, and Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai on Saturday night into Sunday. A Flood Watch may be needed for at least portions of the state.

LARGE AND ROUGH SURF…Lala is expected to generate a large easterly swell as it moves northwestward. Surf may build along east-facing shores from east to west as the system approaches, with warning level surf possible into the weekend.

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Here’s a near real-time Wind Profile of the Pacific Ocean – along with a Closer View of the islands / Here’s the latest Weather MapLooping Surface Precipitation…through the next 8-days / Vog Map

 

Marine Conditions…as of Thursday morning: High pressure to the far northeast will slowly drift into a position just north of the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, producing moderate to locally strong trade winds across the region. The Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been extended through the afternoon for the windier waters and channels around Maui and the Big Island. As the high builds north of the state, the trade winds will strengthen tonight into Friday, which causes SCA conditions to expand to include the Kaiwi Channel and adjacent waters (Leeward Oahu and Windward Maui).

The weather pattern will change significantly by Friday night as Tropical Storm Lala east-southeast of the Big Island, approaches our area. The tropical storm moves into the offshore waters southeast of the Big Island on Friday, with winds beginning to ramp up for the coastal waters by Friday night. While the National Hurricane Center forecast depicts Lala as a high-end tropical storm passing near the Big Island, model guidance suggests some potential for the cyclone to reach category 1 hurricane strength. As such, a Hurricane Watch has been posted for the coastal waters surrounding the Big Island, from Friday night through Saturday night to highlight the potential for winds to reach hurricane strength.

After passing near the Big Island on Saturday, Lala is forecast to track west-northwest, with high confidence that the system remains south of the rest of the island chain. Therefore, marine interests throughout Hawaii should be prepared for possible tropical cyclone impacts, including strong winds and large swells, for both offshore and coastal marine zones lasting through the weekend.

A High Surf Advisory (HSA) is in effect for south and west facing shores as a long-period south swell peaks today and remains elevated tonight. This south swell energy may linger at advisory thresholds into Friday and then will slowly fade into Saturday. Another small reinforcement is expected late Sunday into Monday out of the south.

Surf along east facing shores will trend upward gradually through Friday, with continued moderate to locally breezy trade winds which are forecast to increase out ahead of Lala. Additional swells generated by One-C are likely to arrive on Friday, but the main energy from the Tropical Cyclone is expected this weekend and should produce surf heights exceeding warning levels along east facing shores. Based on the current forecast from the National Hurricane Center, dangerous surf conditions are expected around Maui and the Big Island on Saturday, and around Oahu and Kauai Saturday night into Sunday.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Wednesday, August 12, 2026 – 115 degrees near Tecopa, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Wednesday, August 12, 2026 – 33 degrees near Bynum, MT

 

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY | Marlon Holden Fine Art


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity


>>> Here’s a link to the latest Pacific Disaster Center’s
Weather Wall


>>>
Atlantic Ocean:
 

Tropical Cyclone Cristobal…located about 610 miles west of the Azores

CRISTOBAL BECOMES A TROPICAL DEPRESSION AND IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE TODAY

According to the NHC advisory number 4

The depression is moving toward the northeast near 16 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through today. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast, and Cristobal is forecast to dissipate later today. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1014 mb (29.95 inches).

 

Central Subtropical Atlantic:

Invest 92L

Showers and thunderstorms are showing signs of organization in association with a tropical wave located about 1000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. This system will likely become a short-lived tropical depression during the next day or two as it moves westward across the tropical Atlantic. However, by late Friday, the system is expected to move into a region of strong upper-level winds and dry air, which should end its opportunity to develop. Interests in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of this system as gusty winds and areas of heavy rain are possible Friday night and Saturday, regardless of development.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…80 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…80 percent

 

Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

Invest 94L

A tropical wave located a few hundred miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are forecast to be generally conducive for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form late this week or this weekend while the wave moves westward or west-northwestward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…30 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…50 percent

 

>>> Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

>>> Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

 

Northeast Pacific: 

Tropical Cyclone 08E (Hernan)…is located 1460 west of the southern tip of Baja California

HERNAN STRENGTHENS SLIGHTLY

According to the NHC advisory number 3…

Hernan is moving toward the west-southwest near 3 mph. A turn toward the southwest and south is expected over the next couple days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph with higher gusts. A weakening trend is expected to begin later tonight through Friday, and Hernan is forecast to become a post-tropical remnant low by this weekend. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).

 

Central North Pacific: 

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 705 miles east-southeast  of Hilo, Hawaii

TROPICAL STORM LALA FORMS …HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED FOR THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII

According to the NHC advisory number 5…

Lala is moving toward the west near 10 mph. A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next several days. On the forecast track, Lala is expected to be near or just south of the Big Island on Saturday, and pass south of the smaller islands during the remainder of the weekend. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is forecast, and Lala could be near hurricane strength as it approaches the Big Island. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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Tropical cyclone 13W (Peilou)…is located approximately 827 NM north of Wake Island

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Tropical cyclone 16W (Nangka)…is located approximately 555 NM east-northeast of Iwo To

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>>> Southwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

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



Interesting:
Drought is Reshaping the Spread of Infectious Diseases

From the American West to Europe, droughts are drying up rivers, fueling destructive fires and reshaping ecosystems. They are also changing the spread of infectious diseases, leading to surges in illnesses like cholera and West Nile virus around the world.

In a review paper published August 12 in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, CU Boulder ecologist, Pieter Johnson, and his collaborator, Tara Stewart Merrill at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, reveal how drier conditions could make humans and wildlife more vulnerable to certain infectious diseases, even though many parasites and disease-carrying organisms depend heavily on water to survive.

“Climate change isn’t simply making Earth warmer or drier,” said Johnson, distinguished professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “It is making droughts more variable and less predictable. That unpredictability is becoming one of the defining challenges for understanding and managing disease in natural ecosystems.”

Read More: University of Colorado at Boulder

Image: A pond in Shanahan Ridge in Boulder, Colorado. It has gone dry for the first time in many years this summer due to the lack of snow in the area last winter.