Glenn James

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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1215pm Sunday afternoon HST


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

1.08  Kilohana, Kauai
0.56  Lyon, Oahu
0.18  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.80  Puu Kukui, Maui
1.98  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Sunday afternoon:

21  Port Allen, Kauai – E
37  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE
28  Makapulapai, Molokai – E 
32  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE 
31  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. 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 Pacific…including Tropical Storm Odalys and Tropical Depression 17E


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Variable low, middle, and high level clouds are present over the island chain

 

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Localized Showers…very few 

 

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

519am, it’s mostly clear here at my place. The low temperature here in upper Kula was 57 degrees, relative humidity is 80%…with calm winds

1215pm, it’s a mostly sunny day here in Maui County, with just the usual low clouds over the windward sides…and the West Maui Mountains.

 

>>>Tropical Cyclone Activity – Hawaii:  The unusually warm waters of the tropical eastern and central Pacific continue to promote the formation of tropical systems, as we approach the beginning of our autumn season. The latest spin-up is Tropical Storm Odalys over in the eastern Pacific, which will strengthen into a hurricane within 24 hours. Fortunately, the NHC forecast keeps it away from our central Pacific. At the same time, Tropical Depression 17E has formed very close to the west coast of mainland Mexico, and will take on the name Polo when it strengthens into a tropical storm…and will reach major hurricane status by Wednesday or so.

Meanwhile, here in the central Pacific, there’s a chance that Remnants of TC 15E, or it’s associated trough of low pressure, could approach the general area of the Hawaiian Islands later in the upcoming work week. As this area of disturbed weather moves closer, we could see increased moisture, which could potentially lead to heavy rainfall and localized flooding, at least for the Big Island. The best consensus seems to show the core of the low staying south of the Big Island.

It should be noted that the NHC is keeping a close eye on this area of disturbed weather, as some of the forecast models want to redevelop it back into a tropical cyclone. At the time of this writing, there’s a near zero chance of this happening over the next 48 hours, although it becomes a much more favorable 60% chance of forming into a TC within the next 7 days. According to the NHC, environmental conditions are conducive for some development by the middle to latter portion of the upcoming week…as it moves south of our island chain.


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Hawaii’s Weather Highlights
…as of Sunday afternoon:
Moderate to locally breezy trade winds will continue through Monday, before gradually decreasing by mid-week. Another round of moisture will move in from the east by next Tuesday, increasing shower activity across the state.

Short Term Update: Radar and satellite indicate mostly sunny skies with only isolated light showers. Trades were moderate to locally breezy, with sustained values generally 10 to 20 mph with gusts 20 to 30 mph. This rather typical trade wind weather is forecast to continue

Weather Narrative…as of Sunday afternoon: Local radar imagery shows relatively few light showers across the region embedded within locally breezy trade winds. This is supported by the surface observations across the islands, which show very light rainfall accumulation has occurred overnight. The spots which did see a few light showers were primarily windward and mountain locations. Water vapor imagery shows a trough aloft in the vicinity of the western islands. Southerly wind flow aloft associated with this upper trough is helping draw high cirrus clouds northward over the state.

The upper trough is expected to linger near the islands for the next few days, first remaining nearly stationary near the western end of the state, then lifting slowly northward. Meanwhile, the breezy trade wind flow is prevailing across the islands, which will focus the bulk of shower activity over windward and mauka locations for the next couple of days. By mid-week, the trough could disrupt the surface flow enough to cause a brief dip in wind speeds across the islands. Throughout the next few days, dewpoints in the low 70’s will continue the humid/muggy conditions.

Currently, the remnants of former Tropical Depression 15E remain well southeast of the islands, and recent satellite trends show that very little convection is associated with the system at this time. As this system moves to the west, a trough associated with it will bring moisture towards the islands, which will increase shower activity mid- to late week. That trough will also help to disrupt the trade wind flow. Models suggest that unstable air associated with the trough should approach the Big Island by sometime early Wednesday.

With precipitable water vales reaching over 2.00 inches, and with this surface feature nearby to provide sufficient lift, heavier showers are likely. Isolated thunderstorms have been added to the forecast over primarily the eastern end of the state. By the end of the week, strong trades should build back in.

It remains notable that the forecast will be dependent on how global guidance handles the remnants of Tropical Depression 15E. According to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, environmental conditions are conducive for some development by the middle to latter portions of the week, as it moves westward to west-southwestward, south of the Hawaiian Islands.

Fire Weather: Fire weather risk remains low. Locally breezy trade winds are expected through at least Monday. However, dewpoints in the low 70’s will keep relative humidity in check. Inversion heights are around 6,000 feet.

 

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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 Sunday afternoon: The gradient between weak high pressure north of the islands, and pressure falls south of the islands, is resulting in locally breezy trade winds across the region, confirmed by an advanced scatterometer pass over the area. Therefore, a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect through Monday afternoon for the typical windy channels and waters of Maui County and the Big Island. After a brief lull in trades, they will restrengthen again during the latter portion of the upcoming week, as a trough or potential weak tropical disturbance moves south of the islands. Shower coverage will also increase, along with isolated thunderstorm potential, particularly across the eastern waters.

Surf along south facing shores will remain above average as a long period south-southwest swell holds relatively steady for the next couple of days. This swell will then fade during the middle of the week, but will be followed by another small southerly swell shortly thereafter. West facing shores will experience a bit of the southerly wrap.

Breezy trade winds will maintain moderate surf along east facing shores for the next several days. Surf along north facing shores will remain flat to tiny through Monday, but could see a rise Tuesday into Wednesday. A small, long period west-northwest swell will then build later in the week, increasing surf along north and west facing shores a bit more Friday into next weekend.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 106 degrees at Death Valley, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 24 degrees at Austin, NV

 

Beautiful Pictures Of Hawaii To Brighten Dark Rooms


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



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


Atlantic Ocean:

Tropical cyclone 6L (Fay) is located about 450 miles southwest of the Azores

DEPRESSION STRENGTHENS TO TROPICAL STORM FAY

According to the NHC advisory number 4

Fay is moving toward the north-northeast near 5 mph, and this general motion is expected for about another day. A turn to the southwest is expected on Monday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected over the next day or so. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).

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 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 1310 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California


ODALYS IS GRADUALLY STRENGTHENING

According to the NHC advisory number 2

Odalys is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph, and a turn to the northwest is expected later today. A turn toward the north and northeast with a decrease in forward speed is forecast on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph with higher gusts. Continued gradual strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and Odalys is forecast to become a hurricane by Monday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

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Tropical cyclone 17E is located about 285 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico

NEW TROPICAL DEPRESSION DEVELOPS TO THE SOUTH OF MEXICO 

According to the NHC advisory number 1

The depression is moving toward the north-northeast near 8 mph, and a turn toward the east is expected on Tuesday, followed by a decrease in forward speed and a turn toward the north and northwest on Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Significant strengthening is forecast, and the system is forecast to become a tropical storm by Monday and a hurricane by Tuesday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 mb (29.74 inches).

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Central North Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

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

(Former TD 15E)

Showers and thunderstorms associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression 15E, located well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, remain limited. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some development of this system by the middle to latter portion of this week as it moves westward to west-southwestward, and a tropical depression could form to the south or southeast of the Hawaiian Islands once the environment becomes more favorable.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…60 percent 

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 24W (Dujuan)…is located approximately 256 NM south-southwest of Yokosuka, Japan

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Southwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

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



Interesting: 
Why Most Rivers Don’t Respond to Storms the Same Way Twice

The same amount of rain falling on the same landscape at different times can send very different amounts of water into its rivers, according to a new study in Nature Water. The research offers a global picture of how catchments behave—not where rivers are or how much water they carry—but how consistently landscapes turn rainfall into river flow.

“We often imagine a catchment as a pipe—put in a certain amount of rain and get a predictable amount of runoff,” said Dr. Ali Ameli, a hydrologist at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and lead author of the study.

“But most catchments behave more like dynamic systems with a memory. How much of today’s rainfall becomes runoff and reaches the stream depends on both the conditions created by earlier weather and which parts of the landscape supply water to the river during the storm.”

Read More at: University of British Columbia

The forested catchments on Vancouver Island’s west coast are prime examples of simple catchments