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

 

The latest update to this website was at 115pm Saturday afternoon HST


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

1.31  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.15  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.26  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.03  Lanai
1.13  West Wailuaiki, Maui
1.67  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


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

22  Port Allen, Kauai – NE
37  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ESE 
27  Makapulapai Molokai – E 
25  Lanai 1, Lanai – NE
38  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE
31  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.

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

  Hurricane 06E (Fausto) still well east, heading in our direction…although will likely weaken along the way / we now see strengthening Tropical Cyclone Genevieve closer to Mexico 

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/GEOCOLOR/20262061330-20262062120-GOES18-ABI-HI-GEOCOLOR-600x600.gif

Variable low clouds 

 

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

512am, it’s mostly clear here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 52.5 degrees…with the relative humidity 79%

907am, still sunny here in upper Kula, although there are lots of showery looking clouds towards the windward side of east Maui.

 

>>> Interesting weather web blog: Mauka Showers…Hurricane Fausto Heading Towards the Hawaiian Islands

 

We have Hurricane Fausto continuing to churn the waters of the eastern Pacific, to the east of the Hawaiian Islands. It will continue more or less westward over the next several days. It will cross over into our central Pacific today. From there it may eventually get close to Hawaii, or move by not far to the north. If this were to occur, we could see the associated cloud field bring heavy showers and gusty winds our way around Tuesday/Wednesday of next week. Additionally, we should see rising surf this weekend along the east facing shores…generated by Fausto. As we know, things may change going forward, so that I’ll keep abreast of these changes and make updates here as warranted.

H

>>> For more information about Fausto, please scroll down this page to the World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity section

cone graphic

time of arrival graphic

 

>>> Highest Temperature Friday, July 24, 2026 – 123 at Death Valley, CA

>>>
Lowest Temperature Saturday, July 25, 2026 – 33 degrees near Old Station, CA

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Saturday afternoon: Breezy trade winds will usher in windward clouds and showers through Monday. Hurricane Fausto is expected to weaken to a tropical storm as it approaches the islands and will potentially bring heavy rain, winds and surf to portions of the state Tuesday through Wednesday. Trades will fill in Thursday night in the wake of Fausto.

Weather Commentary…as of Saturday afternoon: Breezy trade winds will usher in windward clouds and showers through Monday. Incoming clouds and showers will focus over windward and mountain areas, mostly occurring during the nights and early morning hours. Atmospheric soundings show a stable environment across the islands with an inversion around 7,000 to 8,000 feet.

The highlight next week will be the approach of now Hurricane Fausto. Fausto is expected to weaken over the next several days as it tracks west across higher wind shear and cooler waters, reaching the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday. Main impacts Tuesday and Wednesday include the possibility of strong winds, flooding rain and east shores surf, and will be dependent upon Fausto`s eventual path.

Winds could also be mitigated on a more northerly swing of the track, but more impactful if it slides southward, so confidence remains low. For rainfall, mitigating effects will be Fausto`s relatively quick west movement limiting how long it will rain will last across each island, but our terrain can capture much of this moisture as it passes through.

Meanwhile, swell generated by Fausto is quite certain, which will gradually build Sunday night through Monday night.

No time like the present to review your family hurricane preparedness plans, and ensure every household has at least a 14 day supply of food and water available if needed during this years active hurricane season.

A drier and more stable breezy trade wind pattern will fill in across the state from Thursday onward, as Fausto continues to journey westward away from the Hawaiian Islands.

 

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

 

Marine Conditions…as of Saturday afternoon: Locally strong trades persist through Sunday in response to strong high pressure positioned north of Kauai. The Small Craft Advisory for the typically windy waters of the Big Island and Maui County remains in effect through Sunday afternoon. Trades then weaken and turn northeasterly late Sunday into Monday upon the approach of TC Fausto. NHC forecasts the storm to weaken to a tropical storm well before it passes near or just north of the islands Tuesday through Wednesday. Low confidence in the wind forecast given sensitivity to the exact track of the system.

Existing SSW swell is gradually declining while a new SSW pulse is poised to arrive later today. Long period energy in the 17 to 19 second band has been observed on offshore NDBC buoy 51002 during the last few hours. This swell will build today into tonight in support of the High Surf Advisory (HSA) which was extended through tonight. Today`s observations will dictate whether an additional extension of the HSA through Sunday will be needed.

Locally strong trades support rough E shore surf a notch above the seasonal average through tonight. The trade wind swell will drop slightly as long period swell from Hurricane Fausto arrives tonight and Sunday. The Fausto swell will likely produce advisory- level surf along east facing shores Sunday night or Monday. High Surf Warning conditions are then possible during the peak on Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the eventual track.

Surf along N shores remains flat to tiny through the weekend. Some increase is expected as Fausto or its remnants pass over the region Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

Maui vs Big Island: Which Hawaiian Island to Visit? - The World Was Here First


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

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

>>> 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 06E (Fausto)…is located about 1140 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii

FAUSTO CONTINUES WESTWARD…EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC EARLY SUNDAY

According to the NHC Advisory number 28 

Fausto is moving toward the west near 14 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next several days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 971 mb (28.68 inches).

 

Tropical cyclone 07E (Genevieve)…is located about 510 miles south-southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico

GENEVIEVE NEARLY A HURRICANE AND FORECAST TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY EARLY NEXT WEEK

According to the NHC Advisory number 6 

Genevieve is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph and a general west-northwestward to northwestward motion is expected during the next few days, keeping Genevieve well offshore of the coast of Mexico. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph  with higher gusts. Rapid intensification is forecast during the next couple of days. Genevieve is forecast to become a hurricane tonight and a major hurricane by Monday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb (29.33 inches).

Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)

 

Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclone

>>> Well Southwest of Hawaii:

A large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms located well southwest of the Hawaiian Islands is associated with a broad area of low pressure. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system while it moves generally westward at about 10 mph toward the International Date Line, and a tropical depression is likely to form in the western Pacific basin early next week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…40 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…70 percent

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:  

Tropical cyclone 11W (Noul)…is located approximately 90 NM east-southeast of Hong Kong

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1126.gif

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/11W_251800sair.jpg

 

>>> 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: 
Controlled Burns Have Saved Thousands of Giant Sequoias

The use of small, controlled burns to clear out flammable underbrush has saved thousands of giant sequoias from devastating wildfires, new research finds.The largest trees on Earth, sequoias can reach more than 300 feet tall and live for 3,000 years, but they grow only in a narrow band of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, where hotter, drier weather has left forests increasingly prone to wildfires. With their thick bark and high canopies, the trees can withstand small fires, but the more intense blazes seen in a warmer climate have proved deadly for thousands of trees.Together, the 2020 Castle Fire and 2021 KNP Complex Fire killed as many as 13,000 giant sequoias, or close to a fifth of all sequoias. According to the new study, the death count would have been considerably higher without the use of prescribed burns.


Read More: Yale Environment 360A controlled burn in Sequoia National Park.