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

 

The latest update to this website was at 744pm Saturday evening HST


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

0.32  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.03  Kalawahine, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.16  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.35  Pahoa, Big Island


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

33  Port Allen, Kauai – NE
33  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – SE
32  Makapulapai, Molokai – E
m   Lanai – missing
48  Na Kula, Maui – ESE
45  Puuloa, Big Island – NW


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

   Tropical cyclone 01C (Lala) far northwest…moving farther 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

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/14/20262342050-20262350440-GOES18-ABI-HI-14-600x600.gif

Clouds associated with TC Moke south-southeast

 

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…very few 

 

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

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

429am, it’s clear here at my place here in Kula with a low temperature of 59 degrees, and the relative humidity is 85%

1223pm, sunny to partly cloudy here in Maui County, with some haze starting to show up.

235pm, an unusually clear and cloud free day, although with some haze here on Maui.

740pm, it’s cloudy here in upper Kula, with a bit of fog around the edges.

>>> 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 specific 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.

>>> Looking at the latest model output, it appears that this potential TC (noted above) will likely form over in the eastern Pacific, although now looks like it may fizzle out as it crosses over into our central Pacific around August 31st…time will tell.

 

Interesting Weather Blog: Mauka ShowersAfter Lala?…We Have to Deal With a Moke?

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Saturday evening:  Trade winds will continue to strengthen as Tropical Storm Moke moves generally from east to west, south of the islands. This system will deliver periods of rainfall to all islands from late tonight through Monday, with the heaviest rainfall forecast along windward and southeast slopes of the Big Island. A Flood Watch goes into effect for the Big Island at midnight tonight. A Wind Advisory is in effect for parts of the Big Island and Maui County through 6pm Sunday. Drier trade wind weather will return Tuesday.

Weather Narrative..as of Saturday evening: Satellite imagery shows Moku weakening as dry air and vertical wind shear take a toll. Winds have not officially decreased, but it looks like that may be happening soon. It was centered southeast of Hilo. Otherwise, isolated light showers were moving across northern sections of the Big Island. Other areas were dry. Trade winds were averaging 10 to 20 mph with gusts 20 to 35 mph.

Depending on exactly if or how much Moke weakens over the next 12 or so hours, the surface pressure gradient is expected to tighten up and strengthen winds up to advisory criteria in some areas of Big Island and Maui County. Winds in the lee of the Kohala Mountains may approach wind warning criteria, and winds in the lee of the Koolau and Waianae mountains on Oahu may approach wind advisory level Sunday.

Winds are forecast to begin a gradual weakening Sunday night into Monday, and a return to more typical trades is expected by Tuesday. The latest GFS model is trending slightly down, but the EC model has trended up. Flooding rains remain possible on Big Island. Eastern Maui will be monitored closely. Other areas seem unlikely to experience flooding rains, apart from isolated training effects that may develop. A Flood Watch for the Big Island will go into effect tonight and continue through Monday afternoon.

Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches, locally up to 15 inches are possible over the windward and southeast slopes of the Big Island. It will not take a significant amount of rain to cause flash flooding, due to saturated grounds from recent heavy rain. Moisture will remain above normal Monday, as Moke moves west away from the area. Showers will continue, mainly windward and mountains. By Tuesday, drier air will move in from the east, and typical trade winds/showers are forecast for the remainder of the week.

 

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 evening: Trades are strengthening in response to Tropical Storm Moke passing south of the islands and the Small Craft Advisory remains in effect through the weekend. Breezy trades then persist well into next week as high pressure remains anchored along 30N.

Surf along E and SE shores gradually builds in response to strengthening trades and short period fresh swell emanating from Tropical Storm Moke. The direction of this swell will transition to S and then SW as Moke advances west. A High Surf Advisory (HSA) may be needed for the SE shores of the Big Island tonight into Sunday, but at this time it appears surf will fall shy of the HSA threshold.

Surf along S shores remains slightly below the summer average but still slightly elevated through the weekend due to a small, long period SW swell. A series of long period S swells arrive during the middle of next week bumping surf to around the advisory threshold. A small medium to long period NW swell originating from Hurricane Lala provides elevated surf along N and W shores this weekend.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 121 degrees at Death Valley, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 34 degrees near near Kirk, OR

 

Hawaii Wall Art Print, Tropical Oahu Landscape Photography, Lush Green Jungle Mountains, Palm Trees Road, Island Paradise Home Decor - Etsy


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 gale-force, non-tropical area of low pressure located a few hundred miles west of the coast of Portugal is producing limited shower activity. This system could acquire some subtropical or tropical characteristics later today while it moves eastward to east-northeastward at 10 to 15 mph toward Portugal and northwestern Spain. By tonight, the low will encounter unfavorable environmental conditions, and further development is not expected.

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

 

>>> Central Subtropical Atlantic:

Invest 95L

A broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles southeast of Bermuda is produced some disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. Slow development of this system is possible during the next few days as it drifts westward or northwestward today and then accelerates northward early this week.

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

 

>>> Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

A tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa on Monday, and an area of low pressure could form in association with the wave early this week. Environmental conditions are forecast to be marginally conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form by the middle to latter portions of the week while the system moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…450 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

>>> Southwest of Mexico:

Invest 92E

Showers and thunderstorms are quickly becoming better organized in association with a broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Environmental conditions are favorable for development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is expected to form on Sunday as the system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.

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

 

>>> Central East Pacific:

Invest 91E

Disorganized showers and thunderstorms are persisting with a broad area of low pressure located well to the south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form before it interacts with, or merges with the disturbance to its east (EP92) late this weekend or early next week.

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

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 385 miles northeast of Kure Atoll

LALA WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM

According to the NHC advisory number 43…

Lala is moving toward the northwest near 6 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are now near 70 mph with higher gusts. Additional gradual weakening is forecast during the next several days. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 984 mb (29.06 inches).

 

Tropical Cyclone 02C (Moke)…is located about 360 miles south-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii

MOKE WEAKENS SLIGHTLY THIS AFTERNOON…HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED TO BEGIN TONIGHT ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII

According to the NHC advisory number 11…

Moke is moving toward the west near 14 mph, and this general motion is expected during the next several days. On the forecast track, the center of the storm is expected to pass south of the Big Island of Hawaii on Sunday, then well south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands early next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected tonight, but a gradual weakening trend is forecast to begin on Sunday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center. The minimum central pressure is 999 mb (29.50 inches) based on data from NOAA and Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft.

cone graphic

 

 Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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

 

Tropical Cyclone 17W (Saudel)…is located approximately 861 NM east-southeast of Kadena AB

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1726.gif

 

Tropical Cyclone 18W (Narra)…is located approximately 113 NM east of Hanoi, Vietnam

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

 

Tropical Cyclone 19W…is located approximately 266 NM northwest of Yap

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1926.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