Glenn James

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

 

The latest update to this website was at 754pm Saturday evening HST

 

[The winds are very strong here in upper Kula tonight, and I could lose power at any time, so if I do, I’ll be back to resume updating as soon as my power returns.]


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

2.46  Kilohana Kauai
0.96  Waiawa, Oahu
1.22  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
4.05  West Wailuaiki, Maui
9.94  Laupahoehoe, Big Island


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

30  Lihue, Kauai – NE
53  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE
37  Makpulapai, Molokai – E
62  Na Kula, Maui – E
56  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 2 Hurricane Nolo just south of Hawaii 


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Variable clouds are present over the island chain…Hurricane Noro just south 

 

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Localized Showers…some heavy 

 

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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 Saturday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

450m, it’s partly to mostly cloudy here at my place, with the low temperature 64.5 degrees, relative humidity is 84%…with off and on windy conditions. BTW, even though the low was 64.5 degrees…at the time of this writing it’s an unusually warm 74.2 degrees

615am, now that it’s light I can see lots of rainy looking clouds over along the windward side of east Maui.

352pm, I played pickleball this morning in Haiku, where it was heavily raining off and on, with strong winds blowing.When I got home here in upper Kula, it was warm with muted sunshine and completely dry in contrast.

523pm, the wind is definitely picking up here at my place in upper Kula, and drizzle is being carried over from the windward side…beautiful double rainbow!

747pm, I highly recommend that everyone keep their devices charged up, as the winds are definitely strong enough to cause problems…like power outages. Wow, the near full moon is very bright as it comes up this evening!


Hawaii’s Weather Highlights
…as of Saturday evening: 
Strong and gusty trade winds will prevail into Sunday as Hurricane Nolo moves toward the west, well south of the islands. Deepening high pressure north of the state will produce drier and more stable conditions tonight and early Sunday, leading to continued strong wind gusts over and downwind of terrain, especially in west Maui and leeward Kohala on Big Island.

The threat of flooding rainfall has diminished across Big Island and Maui County tonight, with drier conditions on Sunday leading to limited rainfall along windward slopes and dry conditions leeward. Trade winds will lower and shift out of the east-southeast Monday through Wednesday, and chances of rainfall will increase on Kauai and Oahu, as moisture trailing Nolo moves over the western end of the island chain.

Weather Narrative…as of Saturday evening: Strong and gusty trade winds are in place across most of the state as strengthening Hurricane Nolo is moving slowly westward, less than 200 miles south-southwest of Big Island. A mid to upper level ridge building north of the state initiated the westward acceleration of Nolo, and is creating some stability. A tight pressure gradient north of Nolo and the modest developing stability has produced conditions conducive for downsloping winds within the strong trade wind flow.

As a result, Wind Advisory conditions prevail on Oahu and Kauai, and portions of Maui County downwind of terrain are experiencing gusts of around 70 mph or more, mainly in the area around Ukumehame, Olowalu, and Launiupoko. On Big Island, wind gusts nearing 60 mph are being observed in the Kohala Districts. Even though the Tropical Storm Warning for Big Island and Tropical Storm Watch for Maui County have been discontinued, the wind conditions necessitate that the Wind Advisory be expanded to all islands, while a High Wind Warning be posted for portions of Maui County and Big Island. The flood threat is diminishing, but ongoing rain on windward and southeast Big Island will require that the Flood Watch be extended through tonight for that island.

As Nolo moves westward tonight and Sunday, strong and gusty trade winds will persist due to the tight pressure gradient north of Nolo. The threat of heavy rainfall will diminish on Big Island overnight, with limited windward rainfall due across the rest of the state. Expect the Flood Watch to be cancelled by morning.

Winds will ease Sunday afternoon or evening as the pressure gradient slowly relaxes in response to Nolo moving farther westward. Showers will be light and largely confined to windward slopes.

Winds will gradually decline and shift out of the east-southeast Monday through Wednesday. The latest National Hurricane Center forecast shows Nolo passing several hundred miles west of Kauai early next week, but it is worth paying attention tothe progress of the system for any changes to the forecast track. Model guidance shows a band of moisture trailing Nolo and possibly moving over the western end of the island chain Tuesday into Wednesday. If this occurs, Kauai and Oahu could experience an increase in rainfall.

In the long term, weaker trade winds and drier weather is favored by Thursday.

Fire Weather:  As Hurricane Nolo moves westward through the weekend, easterly winds will remain very strong and gusty over and downwind of terrain. Rainfall over the last month has led to some improvement in fuels, but the strong and gusty trade winds will produce moderate fire weather conditions over drier leeward areas today. With drier and continued windy weather due on Sunday, near critical fire weather conditions are expected, with the only limiting factor remaining the 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 Saturday evening: The Tropical Storm Warning for the waters surrounding the Big Island and the Tropical Watch for the waters around Maui have been cancelled as Hurricane Nolo gradually accelerates westward south of the state. However, the pressure gradient between Nolo to the south and high pressure to the northeast will continue to drive strong to gale-force trade winds through Sunday and a Gale Warning has been issued for all of the Hawaiian coastal waters.

A combination of southeast swell originating from Hurricane Nolo and strengthening easterly trade winds is producing advisory level surf along east facing shores of the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai that will hold through tonight and then begin to diminish late Sunday into early next week as Nolo moves westward, then northwestward, and gains some distance from the islands. As it progresses on this track, the focus will shift to south facing shores as they receive at least a moderate bump to surf from Nolo on top of a moderate, long period south-southwest swell that began filling in earlier today and may approach advisory levels by Sunday afternoon.

A small, long period northwest swell began filling in earlier today and will continue to bring a small bump to north facing shores into early next week. A series of small, medium-period east swells are expected from Hurricanes Odalys and Polo in the East Pacific next week.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 106 degrees near North Shore, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Saturday, September 26, 2026 – 22 degrees near Old Station, CA

 

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


Interesting Weather Web blog: Mauka Showers….Hurricane Nolo – Here We Go Again!



Atlantic Ocean: 

Tropical cyclone (Fay) is located about 1125 miles west-southwest of the Azores

 

FAY VERY SLOWLY MOVING SOUTHWARD

According to the NHC advisory number 28

The depression is moving toward the south near 2 mph. A turn to the southwest is expected starting early next week, along with an increase in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast over the next several days.

cone graphic

 

Post-Tropical cyclone (Gonzalo) is located about 180 miles north of Sal Cabo Verde – Last Advisory

 

GONZALO NO LONGER A TROPICAL CYCLONE

According to the NHC advisory number8

The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph and this general motion is forecast to continue through the weekend, with a slow down and turn to the west-northwest expected by early next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast, and the post-tropical cyclone is expected to dissipate over eastern Subtropical Atlantic by the early to mid portion of next week. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).

cone graphic

 

Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America:
There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical cyclone 16E (Odalys) is located about 885 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California

 

ODALYS CONTINUES TO RAPIDLY WEAKEN

According to the NHC advisory number 29

Odalys is moving toward the north near 7 mph and a general northward to north-northeastward motion is expected to continue through this evening, followed by a sharp turn to the south-southeast by early next week. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 80 mph with higher gusts. Rapid weakening is forecast over the next several days, and Odalys is anticipated to become a post-tropical cyclone by Monday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 979 mb (28.91 inches).

cone graphic

 

Tropical cyclone 17E (Polo) is located about 325 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

According to the NHC advisory number 28

Polo is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph and this motion is expected to continue tonight. A northward turn is expected on Sunday, 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. Maximum sustained winds as measured by a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft are 120 mph with higher gusts. Polo is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Additional weakening is expected during the next few days, but Polo is forecast to remain a hurricane as it approaches Baja California Sur on Monday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure based on data from the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is 949 mb (28.03 inches).

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/EP17/EP172026_5day_cone.png

 

>>> South of the Gulf of Tehuantepec:

Invest 90E

Showers and thunderstorms continue to develop in association with an area of low pressure southwest of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Additional development of the system is anticipated due to conducive environmental conditions and a tropical depression is expected to form in the next day or so. This system is forecast to continue moving slowly to the west-northwest or northwest, staying parallel to the coast of southern and southwestern Mexico.

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

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nolo) is located about 165 miles south-southwest of South Point, Hawaii

NOLO NOW MOVING FASTER TOWARD THE WEST …GUSTY WINDS, HEAVY RAIN, AND LARGE WAVES CONTINUE FOR PORTIONS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

According to the NHC advisory number 26

Nolo is moving toward the west near 8 mph and this motion is expected to continue through Sunday. A turn toward the northwest is expected Sunday night, 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. Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph  with higher gusts. Nolo is predicted to strengthen into a major hurricane on Sunday or Sunday night and reach its peak intensity by Monday. Thereafter, steady weakening is expected. 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 is 969 mb (28.62 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND 

WIND: Strong and gusty winds are possible for all of the Hawaiian Islands through the weekend, although the core winds of Nolo will stay to the south.

RAINFALL: For the eastern and southern portions of the Big Island, Nolo will produce additional rainfall totals 4 to 8 inches with isolated totals of 10 inches, bringing storm totals to 10 to 20 inches with maximum amounts of 25 inches. This rainfall could produce significant, life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

For the western portions of the Big Island, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected. For eastern Maui, additional rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected, bringing storm totals to 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are possible, especially in areas of high terrain.

Across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands, maximum storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected.

STORM SURGE: The threat of significant storm surge has diminished, yet water levels along the coast will remain elevated through upcoming tide cycles due to persistent, dangerous wave action.

SURF: Swells generated by Nolo are affecting exposed east- and south-facing shores of the Big Island and are expected to spread westward and build through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions

cone graphic

 

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

A broad area of low pressure located about 1000 miles to the east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands is becoming organized. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the early to middle part of next week. The system should move generally northeastward, and remain well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…30 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…70 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 115 NM south 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: 
Sharks Can Hear Sounds Nearly 250 Feet Away and Find the Source

Sound travels through the ocean carrying clues about potential prey, predators and other animals, giving sharks an important way to detect what they cannot yet see. But exactly how far a free-swimming shark can hear a sound – and whether it can determine where that sound is coming from – has remained largely unknown.

Now, a new Florida Atlantic University study of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) is helping close that gap. Using an underwater speaker, an aerial drone and free-swimming sharks, researchers found that sharks can detect sounds from considerable distances and respond by dramatically changing direction away from the source – even when the sound source is nearly 250 feet away.

Results of the study, published in the journal Integrative Organismal Biology, provide the first quantified evidence that free-swimming sharks can detect and orient away from sound in the acoustic far field, offering new insight into one of the most fundamental yet least understood senses in these ancient marine predators.

Read more at: Florida Atlantic University