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

 

The last update to this website was Thursday morning at 553am HST


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

0.84  Kilohana, Kauai
0.30  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.06  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai City, Lanai
0.34  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.36  Piihonua, Big Island


The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Thursday morning:

15  Nawiliwili, Kauai – NE
36  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE 
27  Makapulapai, Molokai – E 
31  Lanai 1, Lanai – NE
30  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE
38  Puuloa, 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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Lots of thunderstorms in the deeper tropics…cold fronts far northwest 

 

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Low clouds arriving on the trade winds…high clouds arriving from the west 

 

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Showers locally 

 

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Please open this link to see details on the current Watches, Warnings and Advisories noted above




~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

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

It was clear with some streaky high cirrus clouds, as well as low clouds along the windward sides this morning here in Maui County, with a low temperature at my place a chilly 47.5 degrees. The streaky high cirrus clouds lit up a very pretty pink color at sunrise…just like yesterday!


>>> Highest Temperature Wednesday, May 13, 2026 – 106 degrees at Death Valley, CA
>>> Lowest Temperature Thursday, May 14, 2026 – 15 degrees near Mackay, ID

 

>>> Interesting Weather Web blog: Mauka Showers…2025-2026 Wet Season Numbers…And Here Comes El Niño!

 

Hawaii’s Broad Brush Weather Overview…as of Thursday morning:  Breezy trade winds will persist through today, with showers favoring windward and mountain areas. An upper level disturbance will briefly move over the state on Friday, bringing the threat of heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms over select areas. While widespread heavy rain is not expected, pockets of heavy rain with some flooding impacts will be possible. Wetter than normal conditions will likely persist through the weekend, especially over windward and mountain areas, where scattered showers are expected.

Weather Details for the Hawaiian Islands…as of Thursday morning:  Broad high pressure far north of the state will maintain breezy trade winds across the region through today, carrying clouds and scattered showers to windward and mountain areas, particularly during the overnight to early morning hours.

Starting tonight, the weather pattern will begin to change as a cold upper level low drops southward towards the state. Latest global guidance are in good agreement with the upper level low centered over Kauai by Friday. The strength of the upper level low should induce a surface trough, which should act as a trigger for heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms on Friday. With the center of the upper low expected to be over Kauai, the best atmospheric forcing will be over Oahu and parts of Maui County by Friday afternoon.

While widespread heavy rain is not expected, we should see areas of heavy rain and with light winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere, any heavy rain that develops will be slow moving. With surface winds generally out of the east to southeast, combine that with a cold upper level low centered west of Oahu, generally is a favorable pattern for heavy rain to potentially anchor along the Koolau Mountain Range. While the threat for heavy rain will exist across the state on Friday, the highest confidence is currently over Oahu and portions of Maui County. A Flood Watch may be eventually needed for portions of the state.

Over the weekend, the upper level low will begin to drift further away from the state, which should decrease the threat of thunderstorms. While the instability decreases over the weekend, low level moisture will increase from the southeast, with precipitable water values approaching 2 inches by late Saturday over windward Big Island. Periods of heavy rain is expected over windward and southeast Big Island this weekend, with some enhanced showers possible elsewhere across the state.


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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 Environmental Conditions…as of Thursday morning:  High pressure established north of the islands maintains locally strong trades until an upper disturbance causes winds to weaken by this weekend. Our current fresh to locally strong trades should hold through the day today then gradually weaken and veer towards the east-southeast tonight into Friday. Moderate to fresh east to east-southeast winds are expected Friday into the weekend. The SCA remains in effect for the windier zones of Maui County and the Big Island through this afternoon. The upper level disturbance will bring the threat of heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms on Friday.

A new small to moderate, long period NW to NNW (320 degree to 330 degree) swell will steadily fill in this morning and will likely peak later today and produce above average surf along north facing shores. Latest readings on buoy 51001 did show swell heights of 4 feet 15 seconds, which is in line with guidance. This swell should gradually fade tonight into the weekend.

Small, medium to long period S swell maintains small surf along S shores. A series of gales initially passing south of New Zealand a few days ago and now setting up E of New Zealand should send a series of small south swells all of next week. Surf should rise to near the summer average around Sunday and hold near the summer average throughout next week. Meanwhile along east facing shores, locally strong trades will maintain rough and choppy surf along E facing shores. A slight decrease of wind swell is expected Thursday into Friday as the trades weaken to moderate to locally fresh speeds.

Tides peak around 2.5 ft MLLW this weekend. Combined with ongoing trades and a modest boost in S swell, water levels will peak around 3.0 ft late this weekend into early next week. Minor overwash of low lying coastal areas will be possible during the afternoon high tides at this time.

 

 

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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

>>> Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> Gulf of Mexico: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)

 

>>> Eastern Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)

>>> Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s the link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclone

>>> 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:  A Critical Atlantic Ocean Current Shows Two-Decade Slowdown, Study Finds

A major Atlantic Ocean current system that helps regulate Earth’s climate has been slowing for nearly two decades across a wide stretch of ocean, according to new research—potentially reshaping weather patterns across the globe.

The findings from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science-led research team offer some of the clearest direct observational evidence yet that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is weakening, helping scientists refine their understanding of ongoing climate changes and improve projections of future impacts.

“A weaker AMOC can shift weather patterns, potentially leading to more extreme storms, changes in rainfall, or colder winters in some regions,” said Shane Elipot, a senior author of the study and physical oceanographer at the Rosenstiel School. “It can also influence sea-level rise along coastlines, affecting communities and infrastructure.”

The researchers analyzed long-term data from four ocean monitoring arrays along the western boundary of the North Atlantic, spanning the tropics to higher latitudes. Using seafloor-anchored instruments that continuously record pressure, temperature, density, and currents, the team applied a consistent approach across all sites—using changes in bottom pressure to estimate deep ocean flow below about 1,000 meters. Comparing these measurements over time and across locations allowed them to identify long-term trends in the strength of the overturning circulation.

Read More: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science