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

 

The latest update to this website was at 6pm Wednesday evening HST


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

0.31  Hanalei, Kauai
0.06  Mililani, Oahu
0.08  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.02  Lanai 1, Lanai
1.11  West Wailuaiki, Maui
3.33  Waiakea Uka, Big Island


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

25  Port Allen, Kauai – E
28  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE
37  Molokai AP, Molokai – NE 
33  Kahului AP, Maui – NE 
35  South Point, Big Island – NE


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 5 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…some heavy

 

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

453am, it’s mostly clear with some high cirrus clouds here at my place, with the low temperature 59.5 degrees, relative humidity is 83%…with calm winds

6pm, sunny to partly sunny here in Maui County, near calm winds in upper Kula…and it’s very hazy

 


At this point, our hope is that this TC will not directly impact the island chain. The latest NHC information suggests that there will be a sharp westward turn while the cyclone is close to the Big Island. However, it’s impossible to know exactly when that turn will happen. As has been the case, it’s not surprising that there’s still a north-south spread in the model guidance.

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Interests here in the Hawaiian Islands, and especially on the Big Island, should closely monitor the system, with life threatening catastrophic flooding possible over the steep terrain on the current track.


Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday evening: Nolo has formed south of the Big Island and is forecast to move north toward the Big Island Friday and Saturday as a hurricane, bringing potentially damaging winds and heavy flooding rainfall. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Big Island and surrounding waters. In addition, a Flood Watch is in effect for Maui County and the Big Island through Saturday. Uncertainty in the track of the hurricane remains higher than normal. The latest forecast calls for Nolo to be close enough to bring a threat for significant impacts through the weekend.

Weather Narrative…as of Wednesday evening: Radar and satellite show numerous showers over Big Island, along with a large band of showers to its south which is being heavily influenced by Nolo. Elsewhere, conditions are dry. Skies were mostly cloudy on Big Island and in windward/mauka areas on other islands. Winds were averaging 10-20 mph, with gusts 30-35 mph in the usual gusty places.

The latest update on Nolo has it located about 350 miles south of Hilo, with maximum winds of 45 mph. It was moving WNW at 6 mph. The forecast calls for it to move generally north tonight, then NNE Thursday through Thursday night. It is forecast to turn to the northwest and then west Friday into Saturday. There is uncertainty on exactly when those Friday into Saturday turns will occur, and therefore how close it will get to the Big Island.

The forecast rainfall on Big Island remains 20-30 inches, with isolated amounts to 35 inches. On Maui, the expectations are for 10-15 inches, with isolated amounts to 15 inches. Winds will begin to increase significantly Thursday night into Friday, and wind advisories or warnings will likely be needed outside of the Hurricane Warning area.  The latest forecast shows increased rainfall totals on Maui and the Big Island.

Fire Weather:  Winds will steadily strengthen over the next several days as Nolo moves closer, creating moderate fire weather conditions mainly over drier leeward areas. Rainfall will increase each day through Saturday, mitigating to some extent the stronger winds. The inversion will not be present over the eastern end of the state through this 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 Wednesday evening: The SCA continues for typical windier areas tonight, and expands to the central waters tomorrow, and then to Kauai waters Friday. Friday morning the waters near the Big Island transition from a SCA to the Hurricane Watch for Tropical Storm Nolo. Tropical Storm Nolo is moving slowly northward towards the islands, and will bring increasing swell, winds and rainfall beginning Thursday. While waters near the Big Island are under a Hurricane Watch now, additional waters may need to be added to tropical watches or warnings, depending on the exact track of Nolo is determined with future model runs. Nolo is currently expected to continue on a northward trend, before a turn to the west, but is expected to impact the coastal waters through the weekend.

The current south-southwest swell continue to fade, and a moderate southwest swell will build in Friday, and last into the weekend, with surf peaking near advisory levels. Tropical Storm Nolo is expected to strengthen, and will likely produce a southerly swell that will bring large and rough surf particularly to the south facing shores of the Big Island.

A new small northwest swell will fill in this weekend keeping surf slightly elevated along north and west facing shores. East facing shores will maintain rough, short period wind waves generated from the breezy 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

 

Discover the Endless Beauty of Hawaii Landscape Photography


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 885 miles southwest of the Azores

LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM RE-DEVELOPS INTO TROPICAL DEPRESSION FAY

According to the NHC advisory number 15

The depression is moving toward the west near 8 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible during the next couple of days, but gradual weakening should occur thereafter. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1011 mb (29.86 inches).

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>>> Far Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

Invest 90L

An area of low pressure located a few hundred miles southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands is accompanied by a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system could become a short-lived tropical depression on Thursday or Friday while it moves northwestward to northward. However, strong upper-level winds should end the opportunity for 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 there by Friday.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…60 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…60 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 1345 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

 

ODALYS STRENGTHENS AS IT MOVES EASTWARD

According to the NHC advisory number 15

Odalys is moving toward the east near 7 mph. An eastward to east-northeastward motion at a slightly slower speed is expected for the next couple of days, followed by a gradual turn toward the northeast then north later this week. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected during the next day or two, followed by a weakening trend late this week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 984 mb (29.06 inches).

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Tropical cyclone 17E (Polo) is located about 240 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE POLO MOVING SLOWLY OFFSHORE OF SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO …HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED ALONG COASTAL PORTIONS OF THE STATE OF GUERRERO

According to the NHC advisory number 14

Polo is moving toward the northwest near 6 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest is expected on Thursday and Friday, followed by a northwestward motion on Saturday. On the forecast track, the core of Polo is expected to remain offshore of southwestern Mexico through Thursday morning before moving farther out to sea. Maximum sustained winds are near 160 mph with higher gusts. Polo is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional near-term strengthening is possible, and Polo is expected to remain a powerful major hurricane for the next few days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 923 mb (27.26 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 over the weekend or 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…20 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 556 NM southwest of Iwo To

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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:  Bike-Sharing Can Make Big Dent in Tailpipe Emissions?, SFU Study Finds

A new study found more than half of the city’s bike-share trips replace car trips, with each bike reducing annual CO? emissions by up 120 kilograms (kg) per year. Researchers say that number jumps to nearly 400 kg if those same bikes were used more times per day.

“We calculated each bike in Vancouver’s fleet makes almost two and half trips per day. In terms of emissions impact, it takes 18 bikes to remove tailpipe emissions from one gas-powered car,” says Vahid Hosseini, lead author of the study and a professor in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering.

“That’s pretty good, but if those bikes were used eight times a day, it would only take five bikes for every one fossil fuel car and reduce tailpipe emissions by more than three per cent—all without adding a single bike-share station or bike to the fleet.”

Read More: Simon Fraser University