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

 

The latest update to this website was at 836pm Sunday evening HST


Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the island Sunday evening: 

0.18  Kilohana Kauai
0.09  Pupukea Road, Oahu
0.10  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
2.77  West Wailuaiki, Maui
4.10  Honolii Stream, Big Island


The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Sunday evening:

32  Puu Lua, Kauai – ENE
62  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE 
47  Makpulapai, Molokai – ESE
54  Na Kula, Maui – NE
47  Puuloa, Big Island – NW


Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’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. 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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  Category 4 Hurricane Nolo southwest of Hawaii…with continued tropical cyclone activity near Mexico


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Variable clouds are present over the island chain…Hurricane Nolo moving by to the southwest 

 

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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




~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

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

503am, it’s mostly clear with some cirrus streaks (which lit up a very pretty pink at sunrise) here at my place, with the low temperature 57.5 degrees, relative humidity is 80%…with near calm conditions

1015am, sunny to partly cloudy here on Maui, as we watch hurricane Nolo move further away

1202pm, very sunny with no clouds over or around the leeward slopes of the Haleakala Crater, although I see clouds and showers falling over along the windward side of east Maui

130pm, sunny day, with even the windward side here on Maui looking much less cloudy. Here in upper Kula it’s modestly breezy, unlike the last two days…when it was off an on much windier.

321pm, sunny to partly sunny with quite a bit of dust in the air down in the central valley here on Maui…due to the gusty winds.

816pm, it’s mostly clear here at my place, and for a change the temperature is cooler than it has been at this time in the evening…61.7 degrees.



Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Sunday evening: Strong trades will diminish during the next 24 hours and turn southeasterly Monday night into Tuesday. Showers increase over and around Kauai during mid-week.

Weather Narrative…as of Sunday evening: Satellite shows Hurricane Nolo advancing westward well south of the Hawaiian Islands. Widespread light to moderate showers have diminished in coverage and will eventually clear out tonight. A band of showery low clouds aligned parallel to the trades is taking aim on Kauai where some enhanced coverage of showers this evening. However, veering mid-level winds will eventually steer this moisture northwestward and away from the island.

Winds are diminishing as the pressure gradient over the islands gradually eases. Select areas in Maui County and on the Big Island are still experiencing gusts in excess of 50 mph.

Attention for mid-week focuses on rainfall potential over Kauai, particularly the south and southeast facing slopes. A band of moisture presently on the northeast side of Nolo extends southeastward into the deep tropics per imagery. This band will be drawn over Kauai Tuesday through Friday. Elevated moisture initially moves over the island on Monday, but dry low-levels and lack of ascent preclude an increase in rainfall, as this likely amounts to nothing more than increased cloud cover.

Precipitable water value’s are then poised to rise from around 1.00″ tonight to 2.00+” by Monday night, as rich low-level moisture becomes established over the island. Weak but deep cyclonic flow, coupled with gentle ascent will support increased showers over and around Kauai on Tuesday. Models indicate rapidly diminishing boundary layer stability by late Tuesday which, combined with enhanced southeast wind flow around the eastern periphery of Nolo, should maximize upslope assistance.

Coverage and persistence of rain is subject to some uncertainty, but this will likely manifest as an enhanced coverage of quick-moving showers from the south and southeast. Waves of moisture then maintain some degree of enhanced shower activity over Kauai through Friday, but peak forcing and moisture depth will be late Tuesday through Wednesday with diminishing coverage likely thereafter.

Worth noting this moisture will lift over the remainder of state by Wednesday, perhaps supporting some increase in showers, though taken at face value, decreased southeast winds in the shadow of the Big Island and Maui, may set the stage for some afternoon convection over Oahu Wednesday through Friday, becoming more likely each day as the gradient continues its weakening trend.

Guidance indicates the first cold front of the season reaching the western islands early next week. Southward progress of such fronts are generally overestimated by the models this early in the season, but indications are that it could be rather strongly forced, so it may nonetheless work into the area, bringing with it decreased dew points and a modest increase in showers.

Fire Weather:  Easterly winds will remain strong and gusty over and downwind of terrain, with very strong wind gusts in excess of 60 mph expected over portions of west Maui and leeward Kohala. With drier and continued windy weather due today, wind and relative humidity will be at or near critical fire weather levels in many leeward locations, and the only factor against issuing a Red Flag Warning is the limited widespread readiness of fuels.

 

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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 Map / Looping Surface Precipitation…through the next 8-days / Vog Map

 

Marine Conditions…as of Sunday evening: Hurricane Nolo is now located southwest of the Big Island. Despite its increasing distance from the islands, the pressure gradient between Nolo to the south and high pressure to the northeast, will continue to generate strong to gale- force trade winds, and a Gale Warning remains in effect for all of the Hawaiian coastal waters today. Winds will gradually diminish through the new week, and the Gale Warning will likely be replaced with a Small Craft Advisory tonight for most waters, with gales still possible through the typically windier channels.

Southeast swell generated by Hurricane Nolo is beginning to decline for the Big Island, but continues to produce advisory level surf for east and southeast facing shores. This swells combined with gale force trade winds, are also producing advisory level surf along east facing shores of Maui, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai, that will begin to diminish for the eastern islands today, but will likely take through tonight to fall below advisory criteria for Oahu and Kauai.

The High Surf Advisory for those two islands has been extended accordingly. East shore surf will fade through early this week as Nolo continues westward and then northwestward and gains some distance from the islands. As it progresses on this track, surf along south and west facing shores will increase today and likely hold just below advisory criteria through Monday. A moderate, long period south-southwest swell will gradually fade through Tuesday.

A small, long-period northwest swell will continue to bring a small rise to north facing shores into early in the upcoming week. A reinforcing pulse arriving today may lead to a peak in surf tonight before gradually fading. A series of small, medium-period east swells are expected from Odalys and Polo in the East Pacific later in the week.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Sunday, September 27, 2026 – 105 degrees at Comanche, TX


>>> Lowest Temperature Sunday, September 27, 2026 – 17 degrees near White Sulphur Springs, MT

 

What's the weather like? | Baamboozle - Baamboozle | The Most Fun Classroom Games!


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



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



Atlantic Ocean: 

Tropical cyclone (Fay) is located about 1170 miles west-southwest of the Azores

 

FAY HOLDING ON AS A TROPICAL CYCLONE FOR NOW

According to the NHC advisory number 32

The depression is moving toward the south near 6 mph. A south-southwest to southwest motion is expected over the next couple of days, followed by a turn toward the west-southwest with an increase in forward speed by mid-week. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts. Fay will likely become a remnant low in a day or two, and dissipate later in the week. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1012 mb (29.89 inches).

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>>> Central Subtropical Atlantic

Invest 91L

A trough of low pressure located several hundred miles east-northeast of Bermuda is moving quickly east-northeastward. This system is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, and it could become a tropical depression over the next couple of days as it turns eastward to east-southeastward and slows down over the central Atlantic. Environmental conditions are expected to become unfavorable for further development later this week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…50 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…60 percent

 

Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific

Tropical cyclone 17E (Polo) is located about 275 miles west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

NOAA HURRICANE HUNTERS FIND THAT POLO REMAINS A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE…HURRICANE AND TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ISSUED FOR MAINLAND MEXICO ALONG THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA COAST

According to the NHC advisory number 29

Polo is moving toward the north near 12 mph. This motion should continue through tonight followed by a turn toward the northeast on Monday. On the forecast track, Polo is expected to approach the west coast of Baja California Sur on Monday, move across the peninsula Monday night and then approach northwestern mainland Mexico by early Tuesday. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter indicate that the maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph with higher gusts. Polo is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in strength are possible over the next day or two, but Polo is forecast to be at or near major hurricane strength when it reaches Baja California Sur on Monday, and it is expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall in mainland Mexico early Tuesday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 951 mb (28.09 inches).

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Tropical cyclone 18E (Rachel) is located about 255 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico

DEPRESSION STRENGTHENS INTO A TROPICAL STORM

According to the NHC advisory number 4A 

Rachel is moving toward the west-northwest near 5 mph. A faster west-northwest motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Rachel is expected to remain well south of the coast of southern Mexico. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Rachel is forecast to become a hurricane on Tuesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).

cone graphic

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nolo) is located about 390 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii

NOLO NOW HAS 150 MPH WINDS

According to the NHC advisory number 30A

Nolo is moving toward the west near 12 mph. A turn toward the northwest is expected by tonight, with this general motion continuing through Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Nolo will remain well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands but will approach the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in a couple of days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph with higher gusts. Nolo is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Nolo is forecast to strengthen further and reach its peak intensity by Monday. In about 2 days, a gradual weakening trend is expected to begin. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure based on aircraft data is 966 mb (28.53 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND 

WIND: Strong and gusty winds are possible for the main Hawaiian Islands through this afternoon. Hurricane conditions are possible in the Hurricane Watch area in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument by Wednesday, with tropical storm conditions possible by Tuesday. Strong and gusty winds are expected for all the Hawaiian Island through today.

SURF: Swells generated by Nolo are affecting exposed east- and south-facing shores of the main Hawaiian Islands through the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Large surf associated with Nolo will affect the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument beginning on Monday. These large waves will likely inundate some of the low-lying atolls, especially from French Frigate Shoals to Nihoa.

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>>> Well East-Southeast of the Hawaiian Islands:

Showers and thunderstorms continue to develop around a broad area of low pressure, currently located well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for further development, and a tropical depression is likely to form in the next several days. The system is expected to move generally northeastward, and remain well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…70 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…90 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 166 NM east of Kadena AB

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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

 

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



Interesting:  Alaska’s Orange Rivers More Metallic Than Acid Mine Drainage

The bright orange plumes of water scientists first noticed billowing across a river in Alaska’s Brooks Range in 2018 were even more acidic and metallic than water leached from metal mines, despite their pristine surroundings. That is according to a new study from the University of California, Davis, of six of the impacted watersheds.

The study, published in the journal AGU Advances, found that these metals can travel far and become more toxic as they go. Metal concentrations were about 70 times higher as much as 60 miles downstream from where they entered the river.

“This is very acidic, metallic water,” said senior author Brett Poulin, a UC Davis professor in the Environmental Toxicology department. “The good news is the river’s mainstem did not become more acidic. It’s buffering the pH, indicating there is some resiliency in this system. But there are metals that increased downstream, and those can be transported very long distances.”

Read More: University of California Davis

Taylor Evinger, a UC Davis Ph.D. candidate, holds a bottle of orange water sampled from the Igning River in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska.