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

 

The latest update to this website was at 558am Thursday morning HST


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

0.01  Waialae Kauai
0.21  Waiahole, Oahu
0.24  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
1.62  West Wailuaiki, Maui
4.37  Piihonua, Big Island


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

17  Nawiliwili, Kauai – NE
42  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – E
33  Makapulapai, Molokai – ESE
40  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE 
47  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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Tropical systems remain active in the eastern and central Pacific…including Hurricane Odalys and Category 4 Major Hurricane Polo…along with Tropical Storm Nolo nearing Hawaii


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Variable low clouds and high clouds are present over the island chain…thunderstorms south 

 

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

453am, it’s mostly clear with some streaks of cirrus here at my place, with the low temperature 59 degrees, relative humidity is 83%…with calm winds

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Thursday morning: Tropical Storm Nolo will intensity to a hurricane as it drifts northward toward Big Island through Friday night. Deepening moisture along the northern edge of the system will gradually increase rainfall across the Big Island and Maui, leading to the potential for significant flash flooding on windward and southeast Big Island.

Big Island remains under a Hurricane Watch with the potential for damaging winds Friday and Saturday, and locally windy trade winds will develop across the rest of the island chain Friday. Nolo is expected to move westward on Sunday, but all interests in Hawaii should monitor the progress of the system as impacts could persist through the weekend.

Weather Narrative…as of Thursday morning: Tropical Storm Nolo continues to slowly intensify less than 300 miles south of Big Island, and is poised to begin a slow turn northward today. Locally breezy and gusty trade winds remain in place, with a few typically windy leeward sites measuring gusts in excess of 30 mph. Expect a slight upward trend in winds today, as an intensifying Nolo gradually tightens the local pressure gradient.

The bulk of the deeper moisture along the northern periphery of Nolo has remained just south of the Big Island coastal waters overnight, which has resulted in mainly light to moderate rain rates on windward Big Island. Most sites in this area have measured less than 1 inch of rainfall during the past 12 hours, though a few gauges upslope of Hilo picked up 1.50 to 2.00 inches. The bulk of model guidance shows little change in rainfall followed by increased chances of heavy showers this afternoon or evening.

Significant impacts could develop as early as Friday, mainly across the eastern end of the island chain, and will likely continue into the weekend. The National Hurricane Center track contains more uncertainty than normal, but confidence is high that Nolo will be at hurricane strength, as it nears Big Island late Friday and eventually turns toward the west Saturday. A Hurricane Watch remains posted for Big Island, where damaging winds are a threat.

Elsewhere, a Tropical Storm Watch may eventually be needed for some areas, namely Maui County, but at minimum, increasing trade winds will require a Wind Advisory. A Flood Watch remains posted for Big Island and Maui County. As slow-moving Nolo edges closer, deep moisture will increase rain rates over these islands, and the greatest concern is focused on windward and southeast Big Island, where a prolonged period of heavy showers and thunderstorms could produce widespread rainfall totals in excess of 20 inches.

The hurricane is expected to move westward Sunday, but given the high uncertainty in the official forecast track, impacts may persist through the weekend for some areas. More typical trade wind weather is expected early next week.

Fire Weather:  Winds will steadily strengthen as intensifying Nolo moves closer. By Friday, very strong winds are possible on Big Island, which remains under a Hurricane Watch, though heavy rainfall will likely mitigate fire danger over most areas. From Kauai to Maui County, rainfall over the last month has led to some improvement in fuels, but the gusty trade winds will produce moderate fire weather conditions over drier leeward areas 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 Map / Looping Surface Precipitation…through the next 8-days / Vog Map

 

Marine Conditions…as of Thursday morning: Tropical Storm Nolo continues to strengthen as the storm system is forecast to slowly drift northward towards the Big Island. Impacts with Nolo include increasing south and east swell, winds and rainfall lasting through the weekend. Marine impacts will highly depend upon the final track and intensity, as Nolo continues to approach the Big Island from the south. Nolo is currently expected to continue on a slow northward trend through Friday with increasing waves along exposed south facing shores of the Big Island, before a forecast turn to the west this weekend with potential wind, weather and wave impacts to all coastal waters through the weekend.

The Hurricane Watch continues for waters surrounding the Big Island, including the Alenuihaha Channel. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the rest of the coastal waters and channels. A Gale Watch was added starting on Friday for the Pailolo Channel and Maalaea Bay due to strengthening trade winds.

The current small south swell continues to fade, as another small overlapping southwest swell builds in from Friday into the weekend. Tropical Storm Nolo is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later today, and will likely produce a southerly swell into at least High Surf Advisory thresholds for exposed south facing shorelines, initially for the Big Island and then a brief period of higher surf expanding westward across the state later this weekend, as the center of Nolo drifts westward and passes just south of the Hawaiian Islands.

A new small, long period, northwest swell will fill in this weekend keeping surf slightly elevated along north and west facing shores into early next week. East facing shores will maintain rough, short period wind waves generated from the strengthening trade winds.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Wednesday, September 23, 2026 – 108 degrees at Death Valley, CA


>>> Lowest Temperature Wednesday, September 23, 2026 – 26 degrees at Seneca, OR

 

Hawaii is often called the "Rainbow State," and for good reason. The islands' unique weather patterns and topography create frequent rain showers; rainbows often appear when the sun breaks through. Due to


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



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




Atlantic Ocean: 

Tropical cyclone (Fay) is located about 990 miles west-southwest of the Azores

 

FAY STRENGTHENS WHILE MOVING WESTWARD OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC

According to the NHC advisory number 18

Fay is moving toward the west near 6 mph. A generally westward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next few days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible through tonight. A gradual weakening trend is expected to commence on Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).

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>>> Far Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

Invest 90L

A broad area of low pressure located a few hundred miles south-southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system could become a short-lived tropical depression or a tropical storm later today or on Friday while it moves northwestward to northward. Increasing upper-level winds, however, should prevent further development by the weekend. Interests in the Cabo Verde Islands should monitor the progress of this system as gusty winds, areas of heavy rain, and flash flooding are possible over the islands by Friday.

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

 

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 11110 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

 

ODALYS A LITTLE STRONGER

According to the NHC advisory number 17

Odalys is moving toward the east-northeast near 7 mph, and this general motion should continue through tonight. A gradual turn toward the northeast is expected Friday followed by a turn toward the north by the weekend. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph with higher gusts. Some further strengthening is expected through tonight, followed by gradual weakening on Friday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 976 mb (28.82 inches).

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Tropical cyclone 17E (Polo) is located about 150 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico

POLO STARTING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE COAST OF SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO

According to the NHC advisory number 16

Polo is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph. A turn toward the west is expected later today and Friday, followed by a west- northwestward motion on Saturday. On the forecast track, the core of Polo is expected to move away from the coast of southwestern Mexico today. Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph with higher gusts. Polo is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in strength are possible during the next couple of days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 928 mb (27.41 inches).

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>>> South of the Gulf of Tehuantepec:

An area of low pressure is expected to form in a couple of days to the south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Afterwards, environmental conditions should be favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression is likely to form early next week as the system moves slowly west-northwestward to northwestward, parallel to the coast of southern and southwestern Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…80 percent

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nolo) is located about 295 south of South Point, Hawaii

TROPICAL STORM NOLO HOLDING STEADY AND IS EXPECTED TO TURN NORTHWARD TONIGHT…HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HAWAII COUNTY

According to the NHC advisory number 14

Nolo is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 mph. A sharp turn to the north and north-northeast is expected late tonight, with this motion continuing through the end of the week. On the forecast track, the system is expected to approach the Big Island of Hawaii on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Nolo is forecast to become a hurricane by Thursday night and could become a major hurricane by the weekend. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND WIND:

WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area starting as early as Friday night.

RAINFALL: Tropical Storm Nolo will produce rainfall totals of 15 to 20 inches across the Big Island with maximum amounts of 35 inches. This rainfall may produce catastrophic life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with maximum amounts of 20 inches expected across Maui. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides possible across Maui, especially in areas of high terrain. Across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches with maximum amounts of 6 inches are expected with isolated flooding possible.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Hawaii County…1 to 3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

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

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

An area of low pressure could form about 1000 miles east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend. Environmental conditions could support some gradual development of this system thereafter as it moves generally northeastward, remaining well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 541 NM south-southeast of Kadena AB

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Southwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea:

Tropical Cyclone 01B…is located approximately 378 NM southwest of Kolkata, India – Final Warning

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



Interesting:  Lake Powell Drops to Record-Low Levels

The effects of a meager mountain snowpack across the Upper Colorado Basin in winter 2025-2026 had made their way downstream to Lake Powell by summer. After seasonal snowmelt declined to a relative trickle, the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. sat at record-low levels in late August and early September.

These images show a portion of Lake Powell just above Glen Canyon Dam as observed by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on the NASA-USGS Landsat 8 satellite on September 1, 2017 (left), and September 10, 2026 (right). In the 2026 image, the water level stood at 3,517.24 feet. About a month prior, it had dipped below the previous record-low level of 3,519.92 feet, set on April 13, 2023, and continued to tick downward in early September. The 2017 image represents one of the highest water levels of the past decade.

The Colorado River feeds Lake Powell and then Lake Mead farther downstream, which also hit record-low levels in August 2026. Managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and other agencies, the river provides water and electric power to more than 40 million people—including in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Diego—and water to some 5 million acres of farmland in the Southwest.

Read More: NASA Earth Observatory

Image: Lake Powell at a record low on September 10, 2026.