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

 

The latest update to this website was at 914pm Saturday evening HST


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

0.67  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
1.52  Manoa Lyon Arboretum, Oahu
0.80  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.01  Lanai City, Lanai
2.76  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.96  Honolii Stream, Big Island


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

29  Port Allen, Kauai – ESE
40  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE
35  Molokai AP, Molokai – NE
m   Lanai – missing
39  Kahului AP, Maui – NE
37  Lalamilo, Big Island – NNE


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

 

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The tropical waters from southwest to southeast and far east-southeast of the islands are active with thunderstorms…along with two tropical cyclones far east-southeast 

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/14/20262412230-20262420620-GOES18-ABI-HI-14-600x600.gif

 Variable low clouds across the state…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




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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

453am, it’s clear here at my place here in Kula with a low temperature of 55.5 degrees, and the relative humidity is 84%

916am, clouds are forming over upper Kula a bit earlier than usual this morning.

313pm, played pickleball with friends this morning in Haiku, which was fun as it always is. It’s yet another nice day here in the islands, with lots of warm summer sunshine beaming down.

505pm, still a very sunny late afternoon, definitely feels like summer full on!

 

A good friend recently sent me a youtube video portraying the poet Mary Oliver. Many of you have never heard of her, and yes, there are those of you who have and love her words…you know who you are.  I just finished watching this documentary, it was a PBS production, and I must say that I loved it. Personally, I must have at least 10 of her poetry books, and even though I’ve read every one more than once over the last several decades or more, I never put them away for long. If you’d care to watch her, and yes there are some very touching moments…here’s a link: Mary Oliver



PDC Weather Wall

Tropical Cyclone Lowell remains active in the eastern Pacific, and as we continue to be in the heart of our hurricane season, we need to keep our eyes peeled for any potential systems taking aim on our Hawaiian Islands.

As such, the NHC has advisories going on two tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific, at least one of which could work its way in our general direction, entering our central Pacific Sunday, and then progressing in a general westward direction into next week.

This first TC has taken on the name Tropical Storm Lowell, although is forecast to become a hurricane early next week. The current forecast track shows Lowell staying to the south of the islands, although as we all know…things can change. The other storm, Tropical Storm Karina, which will likely become a large, major hurricane, is not expected to pose a direct threat to the islands at this time.

cone graphic

time of arrival graphic

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Saturday evening: Moderate to breezy trades continue well into next week. Showers will generally favor windward and mauka areas, particularly during the overnight through early morning hours each day. An increase in moisture next week could prompt additional shower activity. Tropical Storm Lowell remains far east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, and uncertainty in its track, timing, and intensity forecast remains high at this time

Weather Narrative..as of Saturday evening: Radar and satellite imagery show that drier air has filtered in across the state, with only isolated showers currently moving into windward and mauka areas. Looking upstream on satellite, a band of cumulus clouds will bring a slight increase in windward and mauka clouds and showers into the night.

Robust high pressure to the far north will continue to help drive moderate to breezy trades across the state over the next several days. With ridging persisting over the region, shower activity will be suppressed, but minor increases can be expected during the overnight to early morning hours, and as plumes of moisture filter through.

Forecast confidence will drop over the latter half of next week and become low by next weekend. The National Hurricane Center continues to track Tropical Storm Lowell in the eastern Pacific, which was located far east-southeast of Hilo. With a wide spread in model guidance regarding both the track and intensity of this system, its too early to predict any potential impacts to Hawaii at this time.

Fire Weather:  Moderate to breezy trades will continue through this weekend into next week, and with relative humidites expected to dip to near 45 percent across some leeward communities each afternoon, moderate to near critical fire weather conditions are expected. Rainfall will be confined mainly to windward and mauka zones during this time. The current temperature inversion is expected to be around 7,000 to 8,000 feet, with only minor day to day fluctuations expected through the weekend.

 

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

 

Marine Conditions…as of Saturday evening: Extensive high pressure is anchored north of the islands, maintaining moderate to locally strong trades through next week. The Small Craft Advisory remains in effect.

The south swell that peaked just below the advisory threshold declines over the next few days. A long period south swell brings increasing surf to south and exposed west shores beginning Tuesday, and peaking on Wednesday near the High Surf Advisory threshold. Surf along east shores remains choppy due to trades over and upstream of the islands. A small medium period east swell from former Tropical Storm Iselle has filled in and will diminish during the next 24 hours.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 116 degrees at North Shore, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 29 degrees at Kirk, OR

 

Landscapes of Hawaii ?? Which one is your favorite? #travel #adventure #sonyalpha


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


>>>
East of the Leeward Islands (Remnants of Dolly):

Showers and thunderstorm continue in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly, located about 150 miles east of the Leeward Islands. However, there are no signs that the system is developing a closed circulation. Redevelopment of this system is unlikely while it moves westward to west-northwestward near 25 mph. The wave could bring locally heavy rains and gusty winds to portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the next several days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…10 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

>>> Northeastern and North-Central Gulf of America:

A weak low pressure area located around 125 miles south of Pensacola, Florida is producing showers and thunderstorms. Some additional slow development of this system is possible during the next few days as it drifts westward across the northern Gulf.

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

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 11E (Karina)…is located about 780 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

KARINA FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TONIGHT

According to the NHC advisory number 10…

Karina is moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph. A west-northwestward motion with a slightly slower forward speed is forecast tonight, followed by a turn to the west on Sunday. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next several days. Karina is forecast to become a hurricane later tonight and could become a major hurricane early next week. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 300 miles  from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb (29.15 inches).

 

Tropical Cyclone 12E (Lowell)…is located about 1210 miles east-southeast of Hilo, HI

LOWELL STRENGTHENS SLIGHTLY

According to the NHC advisory number 10…

Lowell is moving toward the west near 9 mph, and this general motion will continue during the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Lowell could become a hurricane by Monday or Monday night. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).

 

>>> Well offshore of Southwestern Mexico:

An area of disturbed weather, associated with a tropical wave, is located well to the south of southwestern Mexico. This system is expected to move west-northwestward to northwestward at 10 to 15 mph. Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the early to middle part of next week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…50 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…90 percent

 

Central North Pacific

>>> Central Pacific:

An area of low pressure could form well south or southwest of the Hawaiian Islands in the next few days. Some gradual development is possible thereafter and a tropical depression could form during the middle to latter part of next week. The system should move slowly west-northwestward, and stay well southwest of the Hawaiian Islands.

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

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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

 

Tropical Cyclone 20W (Bang-lang)…is located approximately 723 NM north of Wake Island

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp2026.gif

 

Tropical Cyclone 21W (Etau)…is located approximately 696 NM northeast of Minami Tori Shima

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp2126.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:
El Niño Has Become More Intense Over Last 40 Years Than the Previous 1,000 Years

An El Niño of historic proportion is taking shape in the tropical Pacific. As a result, water temperatures off Santa Barbara climbed into the low 70’s Fahrenheit in late August, and anglers have reported catching dorado and yellowtail around the Channel Islands.

While 2026 promises exceptional conditions, a new study in the journal Science found that El Niño events have become nearly 40% stronger in the last 40 years than they were in the pre-industrial era.

In fact, the authors — who examined modern and ancient corals in the Galápagos Islands — found that El Niño events in the last four decades were stronger than in any of the 1,000 years prior to about 1850, when humans began impacting the climate with greenhouse gases.

“Thanks to these new coral reconstructions, we can go farther back in the eastern Pacific’s past than we ever could before,” said co-author Samantha Stevenson, an assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. “When we do that, we see that El Niño has been getting stronger, and that the changes have really taken off in the past few hundred years.”

Read More: University of California – Santa Barbara

Image: Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean were already far higher than average by the first week of June 2026 due to El Niño.