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

 

The latest update to this website was at 101pm Friday afternoon HST


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

0.33  Kilohana, Kauai
0.55  Kii, Oahu
0.06  Honolimaloo, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.25  Haiku, Maui
0.38  Kaluamakani, Big Island


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

17  Waimea Heights, Kauai – SE
13  Palehua 2, Oahu – SSW
23  Makapulapai, Molokai – ENE
m   Lanai – missing
37  Na Kula, Maui – SE
27  Kealakomo, Big Island – ENE


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 (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

   Tropical cyclone 01C (Lala) far northwest…moving further away / Tropical Cyclone 02C (Moke) southeast

 

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/CP01/refresh/CP012026_5day_cone+png/150554_5day_cone.png

cone graphic

 

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An area of low pressure is passing by to our north…some high clouds in the vicinity 

 

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

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

447am, it’s clear here at my place here in Kula with a low temperature of 56.5 degrees, and the relative humidity is 82%

1036am, just like yesterday, our clear morning here on Maui started off very clear, and just like today, it’s quickly become partly to mostly cloudy. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if we get some showers falling here at my place before noon…again  like yesterday. I see that the NWS office in Honolulu has issued a Flood Watch for the Big Island, which is NOT good news, as they are still soggy from the passage of TC Lala not long ago!

>>> Looking at the latest forecast models I see that once TC Moke goes by to the south of Hawaii, there’s yet another potential TC brewing in the eastern Pacific, which could spin it’s way towards Hawaii. It’s too early to get too hot under the collar about this, although I’ve got my eyes peeled, as I have for the last several days. I’ll certainly keep you abreast of any changes in this regard.

Interesting Weather Blog: Mauka Showers…After L?l?, We Have to Deal With a Moke?

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Friday afternoon:  Strong trades develop this weekend as a tropical system delivers heavy rainfall to windward and southeast slopes of the Big Island. A Flood Watch remains in effect for the Big Island.

Short Term Update: Forecast rainfall in the 8-10″ range still looks reasonable over the Big Island, though the location of that rainfall will be highly track-dependent. A southerly track solution will essentially result in straight trades and heavy rainfall piling up in the Hilo and Puna Districts, especially upslope areas.

A more northerly type of track solution allows cyclonic flow around 02C (Moke) to envelop the Big Island, and for veering mid-level winds to turn SE and focus the rainfall maximum in the Kau and Puna Districts. Given the NHC forecast, focuses most rainfall over the SE slopes of the Big Island. Strong trades ensure fast-moving showers elsewhere, and a minimal flood threat with the exception of Windward Maui where a few inches of rainfall is not out of the question.

The Flood Watch remains in good shape and it is not anticipated that it will be changed in space or time. A Wind Advisory will likely be needed for some or all of the area during the latter half of the weekend. A High Wind Watch for the windiest portions of Maui County and the Big Island is plausible, pending further observations and modeling.

Weather Narrative..as of Friday afternoon: Surface troughing associated with tropical remnants positioned immediately north of the Hawaiian islands will weaken the pressure gradient today. As a result, light winds are expected with muggy weather. A few afternoon showers over leeward areas will be possible today.

The latest track from NHC continues to keep Tropical Depression 02C south of the islands. Confidence has increased further that the main impacts from the system will be increased winds and heavy rain potential over southeast and windward Big Island. Rain chances will increase on the east side of the state late Saturday night into Sunday, spreading west Sunday night into Monday. The current rainfall forecast has 5 to 10 inches, locally higher, over the Puna and Kau Districts, and to a lesser extent over the Hilo Districts of the Big Island. Elsewhere, rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected, with isolated amounts up to 4 inches for eastern Maui.

Breezy trades are expected to return Saturday into Sunday, as resident surface troughing lifts away from the area, and 02C lifts out of the deep tropics. Trades then strengthen considerably as the gradient responds to the close proximity of the tropical system, and 1022mb high pressure anchored to our north.

Sunday may be quite windy over the eastern end of the state, with strong trades spreading westward to the remainder of the state Sunday night through Monday. There is still a chance that a portion of the area may be under tropical watches/warnings during this time, but if the forecast track continues to trend southerly chances of a tropical headline will decrease.

Any shifts in the track will have impacts on both the rain and wind forecast. A more southerly track may leave the smaller islands relatively dry and in a more typical windy trade wind type of pattern, with more wind and heavier rain possible if the track shifts north.

Stable, breezy trades establish for the remainder of next week, as the tropical system departs and governing high pressure centered along 30N remains in place.

 

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 Friday afternoon: A trough passing north of Kauai will continue to track northwestward and away from the state. As the trough moves away, moderate to locally fresh trades will return later this afternoon, and could become locally strong tonight. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) will likely be needed for the windier waters around Maui County and the Big Island by late tonight. Trade winds will continue to strengthen over the weekend, with gale force winds possible across the windier waters around the Big Island as Tropical Depression 02C passes south of the state.

A Gale Watch will be possible for some of the windier waters around Maui County and the Big Island late Saturday into Sunday. Across the offshore waters, Tropical Storm conditions will be possible as early as late Saturday. Tropical Storm conditions are expected Saturday night into Sunday across the southern offshore waters.

Surf along south facing shores will see a modest increase from a new long-period south swell that began trickling in yesterday. Another reinforcing swell is expected over the weekend, which should boost surf heights near the summer average. A series of south swells are expected next week, with above average surf likely during the second half of next week.

Surf along east facing shores remains below average with weak trades, then is expected to build this weekend as the trades restrengthen. Surf along east and south facing shores will be compounded by a southeast swell generated by Tropical Depression 02C, that will build through Sunday and then become south, then southwest through early next week. This short period tropical swell could cause surf to approach advisory levels along east facing shores of the Big Island Saturday night into Sunday, though forecast confidence is on the lower side, as the wind field with this tropical cyclone is expected to be relatively small, and the forecast track may shift slightly.

North facing shores will remain tiny, with a slight rise from Hurricane Lala possible this weekend, out of the west-northwest direction.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Thursday, August 20, 2026 – 121 degrees at Stovepipe Wells, CA


>>> Lowest Temperature Thursday, August 20, 2026 – 32 degrees at Stanley, ID

 


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

>>> Northeastern Atlantic:

A non-tropical area of low pressure is expected to develop along a front over the northeastern Atlantic by early Friday. This system could separate from its fronts and acquire some subtropical or tropical characteristics later Friday or Saturday, while it moves generally eastward or east-southeastward toward Portugal and northwestern Spain.

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

 

>>> Central Subtropical Atlantic:

A weak area of low pressure located over the central subtropical Atlantic a few hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda is producing a concentrated area of showers and thunderstorms southeast of its center. Surface pressures in the area are relatively high, therefore development of this system, if any, is expected to be slow to occur while it drifts west-southwestward through Sunday and then turns northward early next week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 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: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> South-southwest of Mexico:

A broad area of low pressure located a few hundred miles south of the coast of southwestern Mexico is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system is moving west-northwestward and could become a tropical depression over the weekend or early next week before it interacts, or possibly merges with, a disturbance to its west.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…20 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…50 percent

 

>>> Central East Pacific:

Invest 91E

An area of low pressure located several hundred miles south of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression is likely to form this weekend or early next week while the system moves west-northwestward or northwestward at 5 to 10 mph.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…60 percent 
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…80 percent 

 

>>> Well southwest of southwestern Mexico:

Another area of low pressure is expected to develop well south of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula during the middle portion of next week. Some slow development is expected thereafter while the system moves generally west-northwestward.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 230 miles north of Maro Reef

LALA REMAINS A STRONG HURRICANE

According to the NHC advisory number 38…

Lala is moving toward the north-northeast near 14 mph. A turn toward the the north is expected later today, followed by a northwestward motion beginning tonight and continuing through early next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible over the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening through next week. Lala is forecast to remain a hurricane through Sunday morning. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 974 mb (28.77 inches).

 

Tropical Cyclone 02C (Moke)…is located about 660 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii

DEPRESSION STRENGTHS TO TROPICAL STORM MOKE …HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE LIKELY IN PORTIONS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK

According to the NHC advisory number 5…

Moke is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph, and this general motion is expected during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of the storm is expected to pass south of the Big Island of Hawaii this weekend, then south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands early next week. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast over the next day or two. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. The minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches) based on data from an Air Force reconnaissance aircraft.

cone graphic

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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

 

Tropical Cyclone 17W (Saudel)…is located approximately 143 NM northeast of Saipan

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Tropical Cyclone 18W…is located approximately 162 NM east of Hanoi, Vietnam

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1826.gif

 

>>> 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: The Changing Shape of Extreme Rain in the U.S.

Extreme precipitation events are among the most damaging natural disasters and a major concern in our changing climate. In the U.S., since 1980, the most destructive events alone have caused over 2800 deaths and $700 billion in damages. But what is the total area of the country affected by these events each year? And how have these patterns changed over the last several decades? In a recent study in Geophysical Research Letters, led by researchers at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which is part of the Columbia Climate School, the authors discovered some unexpected trends.

Extreme rainfall events that cover large areas, including hurricanes, atmospheric rivers and thunderstorm complexes, are a growing threat, but many studies on extreme precipitation focus on the statistics of rainfall recorded at individual locations, like weather stations. This new study takes a slightly different approach, looking at not only when heavy rainfall events occur, but also how much nearby area was affected by the same event on the same day.

For example, a small-area extreme rainfall event may result in a localized flash flood in just a few towns, but large-area extreme events like Hurricane Ida in 2021 can easily cause destruction across entire states at once. Looking at the statistics of extreme precipitation events across both space and time has yielded some surprising results. For example, the average weather station in the eastern half of the U.S. is recording an increasing number of days with extreme rainfall since 1980; at the same time, we are also observing that extreme rainfall events might be decreasing in frequency. How can both findings be true?

Read More: Columbia Climate School