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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1255pm Wednesday afternoon HST


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

1.07  Hanalei, Kauai 
1.42  Poamoho RG 1, Oahu
0.26  Molokai AP, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
1.26  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.13  Honokaa, Big Island


The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Wednesday afternoon:

13  Port Allen, Kauai – E
29  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE
17  Anapuka, Molokai – NE 
28  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE
30  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.


https://weather.gc.ca/data/satellite/goes_gwdisk11_1070_100.jpg

Big Blue…click twice for largest version

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/tpw/13/GOES18-TPW-13-900x540.gif

 Remnants of former Tropical Cyclone 15E is moving more or less westward…there could be locally heavy rain arriving here in the islands early next week


https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/GEOCOLOR/20262591330-20262592120-GOES18-ABI-HI-GEOCOLOR-600x600.gif

Moisture and circulation of former Tropical Cyclone Norbert approaching from the east 

 

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/HAWAII_loop.gif

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/PHKI_loop.gif

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/PHKM_loop.gif

Localized Showers 

 

https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/png/hfo.png

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




~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

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

503am, it’s clear here at my place. My low temperature here in upper Kula was 55.5 degrees, relative humidity 80%…and calm winds

915am, it’s still mostly sunny here on Maui, along with a few low clouds in the vicinity.

 

>>> Youtube music video of Joni Mitchell…singing “Both Sides Now“

 

Wondering whether this autumn and winter will be drier or wetter than normal here in Hawaii? Well, it looks like it could be markedly drier than normal. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be any cold fronts or upper level lows, that will bring some good moisture, just fewer than we’d likely prefer.

 

>>> Norbert/15E according to the NWS Weather Prediction Center: As Norbert’s remnants engulf the state beginning tonight, winds will remain brisk, and moderate to heavy showers will overtake the entire Island chain from late today into Friday. Norbert’s remnants will likely produce excessive rainfall rates along many of the windward slopes of the islands, with flooding impacts possible through Friday. By the weekend, the bulk of Norbert’s remnants will exit to the west, with some residual tropical moisture in its wake keeping scattered showers in the forecast, as well as gusty winds.


By next week, the remnants of Tropical Depression 15E and its anomalous moisture could make its way into the central Pacific early next week. It is still too early to say with much confidence what impacts its remnant moisture may bring, but another unsettled period appears to be on the way for Hawaii next week.



Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday Afternoon: Breezy trades expected through the middle of next week. An upper level trough and moisture associated with the remnants of Norbert will fill in across the state from east to west later today into Friday, increasing the chances of heavy rain, isolated thunderstorms, and flash flooding, especially for the windward and mauka areas. Drier air will move back in this coming weekend behind the departing trough. Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Depression 15E may bring another round of enhanced trade showers around next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Weather Narrative…as of Wednesday Afternoon: Satellite imagery shows an upper level low well north-northeast of the islands, with a trough extending southwestward towards the state. A few light showers were moving towards the western half of the state, with otherwise partly cloudy conditions mainly on the windwards of the islands. Our trades will strengthen today as the upper level trough approaches.

This trough will dig southwest tonight into Thursday, pulling in remnant moisture from Norbert. Satellite imagery shows a broad area of precipitable water in excess of 2.00″ to the east, which is forecast to move into the eastern half of the state later today, spreading across the remaining islands tonight into Thursday. Deeper moisture and increasing instability will bring moderate to locally heavy showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms, with the highest threat of thunderstorms across the Big Island Thursday afternoon. Heaviest rain is expected on the windward and mountain areas. With soil moisture likely still high from previous heavy rain events, there is an increased risk of flash flooding where heavier showers and thunderstorms occur.

Moisture will decrease from east to west late Friday through the weekend. There is the potential for another round of increasing moisture from the remnants of tropical depression 15E around Tuesday to Wednesday of next week. Models show at least a weak low-level trough associated with this moisture, though further aloft very few models have some form of troughing, while the remainder keep us under a ridge, limiting the potential for heavier showers.

Fire Weather:  Fire weather risk should remain low through the remainder of the week, due to moderate to breezy winds and increased relative humidity and moisture from the remnants of Norbert. Showers will sharply increase late tonight through early Friday. Inversion heights will be around 7,500 to 8,500 ft.

 

https://www.weather.gov/images/hfo/graphics/npac.gif


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 Wednesday Afternoon: A building ridge to the north of the Hawaiian Islands and broad low pressure south of the islands leads trades to increase to fresh to locally strong today. A Small Craft Advisory has been issued for the typically windy waters around the Big Island and Maui County through tonight. Locally strong winds may briefly diminish tonight into Thursday, but look to return later this week and last into the weekend. The remnants of Tropical Storm Norbert, in combination with another weak low pressure to the south, will bring isolated thunderstorms to area waters this afternoon through Saturday.

A series of long-period south to southwest swells will fill in through the rest of the week, leading to a gradual increase in surf for south-facing shores through the weekend. Surf is initially small today, but will trend upward toward the High Surf Advisory threshold by this weekend. Surf along east-facing shores increases today into Thursday as trade winds strengthen and a small, medium-period east swell from the remnants of Tropical Storm Norbert arrives. Flat to tiny surf along north facing shores is expected through the forecast period.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – 109 degrees at Rio Grande Village, Texas


>>> Lowest Temperature Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – 15 degrees at Peter Sinks, UT

 

Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



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


Atlantic Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> Central Subtropical Atlantic:

Invest 98L

A small area of low pressure located several hundred miles east of Bermuda has become better defined over the last 24 hours. Environmental conditions could become a little more conducive for further development in the next few days while the system moves slowly westward to southward over the subtropical Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…20 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent 


Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific:

Northwestern Mexico:

An area of low pressure has moved inland over the western portions of Sonora during the last few hours. While development chances have ended, the risk of heavy rains and flash flooding continues to portions of Sonora and into the Southwestern deserts of the United States.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…0 percent

 

Southwest of Southwestern Mexico:

An area of low pressure could form well offshore of southwestern Mexico within the next few days. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development, and this system could become a tropical depression early next week while it moves slowly northwestward or northward.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…60 percent 

 

Western East Pacific:

A tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms well to the south of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Upper-level winds are forecast to remain unfavorable for significant development through the weekend as the system moves westward at 10 to 15 mph. However, gradual development of this system is possible early next week, and this system could become a tropical depression when it reaches the western portion of the east Pacific basin.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…40 percent 

 

Central North Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 24W (Dujuan)…is located approximately 363 NM northeast of Andersen AFB

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp2426.gif

 

Southwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

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

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwsair.jpg

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



Interesting:  Rising Seas Are Swallowing the Vast Majority of US Coastal Wetlands

The first national-level assessment of coastal wetland submergence shows most of them may still be able to migrate inland, highlighting the need for strategic coastal management.

Along the three coasts of the contiguous United States, a silent race unfolds. Fueled by climate change, sea levels rise faster than at any time in recent geologic history. Meanwhile, coastal wetlands cling to a slim lead, lifted on newly accumulated sediments or moving inland as encroaching tides nip at their heels.

Now, the first national-level study of this competition reveals that coastal wetlands — among the country’s most valuable ecosystems, protecting infrastructure and providing homes for wildlife — are losing ground: 84% are gradually inundating, with many on track to transform into open water. Wetlands along the Gulf Coast are generally faring the worst while certain stretches of the Atlantic Coast appear more resilient. Some wetlands may be able to migrate inland or build up sediment fast enough to keep pace with sea level rise, perhaps with the right help from land managers.

“Our study provides wetland managers with new information to help them make better-informed decisions and identify meaningful solutions to issues they may be encountering, including to facilitate wetland migration upslope,” said Glenn Guntenspergen, a coastal wetland ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and senior author on the study.

Read More: American Geophysical Union