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

 

The latest update to this website was at 732am Wednesday morning HST


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

0.45  Makaha Ridge, Kauai
1.69  Moanalua RG, Oahu
0.12  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.02  Lanai City, Lanai
0.44  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.23  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


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

17  Port Allen, Kauai – E 
29  Palehu, Oahu – NE
30  Makapulapai, Molokai – E
m   Lanai – m
38  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NE 
29  Kealakomo, Big Island – NNW


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 (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

 Thunderstorms southeast in the deeper tropics…potential tropical cyclone 01C southeast

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/14/20262240630-20262241420-GOES18-ABI-HI-14-600x600.gif

Low clouds arriving on the trade winds…higher clouds coming up from the southwest at times

 

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 

 

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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

454am, it’s mostly clear here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 54 degrees…with the relative humidity 79%

 

Potential Tropical Cyclone 01C…is located about 935 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii

cone graphic

Key Messages:

1. The disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm later today or
tonight and strengthen while it moves west-northwestward near or over
the Hawaiian Islands late this week and this weekend. Although it is too
soon to specify the exact location and magnitude of impacts, residents
should closely monitor the latest forecast updates and ensure that they
have their preparedness plan in place.

2. Heavy rainfall associated with the system is expected to begin to impact
the Big Island Friday, spreading westward into Maui on Saturday, and across
Lanai, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai on Sunday.  This rainfall may produce
Life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

3. There is an increasing risk of wind and wave impacts in the Hawaiian Islands
regardless of the exact track and intensity of the system. Hurricane or Tropical
Storm Watches may be required for portions of the Hawaiian Islands tonight or
early Thursday.



>>> Highest Temperature Tuesday, August 11, 2026 – 116 degrees at Stovepipe Wells, CA


>>> Lowest Temperature Tuesday, August 11, 2026 – 30 degrees near Bynum, MT

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday morning: Moderate to locally breezy trade winds will continue today, followed by gradual strengthening Thursday into Friday. Mostly dry conditions will persist through Friday, with occasional passing showers over windward and mountain areas.

However, by the weekend the main weather concern will be related to the potential tropical development of 93C, currently around 900 miles east-southeast of the Big Island. Residents and visitors should prepare now for potential tropical cyclone impacts this weekend.

Weather Narrative..as of Wednesday morning: The latest satellite imagery shows several areas of low clouds and a few embedded showers moving into primarily the central islands, from Oahu to Maui from the east. Despite this, rainfall amounts overnight have been fairly light. Although an updated atmospheric sounding was unavailable at Lihue overnight, the early morning sounding from Hilo showed a strong inversion around 5,000 to 6,000 feet, which is supportive of the drier conditions being observed. Mostly dry conditions are expected to continue through the rest of the work week, with a few scattered showers riding in with the trade winds from time to time, affecting primarily windward and mountain areas.

As previous discussions have mentioned, the primary forecast concern over the next 7-days will be related to the area of potential tropical development that is around 900 miles east-southeast of the Big Island. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) continues to report that the area is conducive for tropical development, with a 90 percent chance of development, likely within the next day or so.

While confidence remains fairly high for at last portions of the state, to be impacted by a tropical cyclone this weekend, the severity of these impacts remains highly uncertain, as the system has not yet fully developed into a tropical cyclone. Once the system becomes better organized, we should have higher confidence in the weather impacts. Interests within the Hawaiian Islands should closely monitor for forecast updates and prepare for the potential impacts described below.

FIRE WEATHER… Fire weather concerns will increase on Friday ahead of any potential tropical cyclone`s arrival. Winds will begin to strengthen, while a dry and stable air mass with low relative humidity moves overhead. This combination of lower relative humidity and increasing wind speeds will likely lead to high wildfire risk.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS… Winds could strengthen further on Saturday, though the timing, direction, and magnitude of the strongest winds remain highly dependent on the eventual track and intensity of the system. Even if the center of the system remains away from the islands, the north semicircle of the storm will likely produce damaging winds. Due to the great uncertainty at this time, it is likely that the current forecast is under-doing winds at some locations, while potentially over-doing the winds at others. The specifics on winds impacts will become more clear as further development occurs.

HEAVY RAINFALL… This system could bring periods of heavy rainfall, particularly across east and southeast-facing slopes. Mountain enhancement could result in locally higher rainfall totals, where moist tropical flow interacts with island terrain. If heavier rainfall persists over the same locations, flash flooding and rapidly rising streams are possible. Again, the location of heaviest rain and any bands that would move through the islands will be highly dependent on the system’s track. The current forecast favors the Big Island and islands of Maui County as having the highest rainfall potential, but this is subject to refinement over the next few days as further development occurs.

LARGE AND ROUGH SURF… The developing system is expected to generate a large easterly swell as it moves northwestward across the Central Pacific. Surf will build along east-facing shores from east to west as the system approaches, with warning level surf possible into the weekend.

 

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 Map / Looping Surface Precipitation…through the next 8-days / Vog Map

 

Marine Conditions…as of Wednesday morning: High pressure to the far northeast will slowly drift into a position just north of the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, producing moderate to locally strong trade winds across the region. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) was extended in time through Thursday afternoon for the windier waters and channels around Maui and the Big Island.

The weather pattern may change significantly this weekend, as we continue to watch for a developing tropical cyclone currently in an area roughly 800-900 NM east-southeast of the Big Island. Marine interests should be prepared for potential tropical cyclone impacts to offshore and coastal marine waters starting Friday and lasting through the weekend.

Surf along south and west facing shores will continue to remain elevated as overlapping south swells continue to fill in around the islands today. Another moderate, long period south swell will fill in later today through Thursday, with swell energy peaking south shore surf heights into the High Surf Advisory range on Thursday. This south swell energy will then slowly fade into Saturday. In the long range surf outlook, the next decent boost in south swell energy may arrive by the end of next week (Aug 19th through 23rd).

Surf along east facing shores will continue to remain moderate and rough due to continued trade winds. Later in the week, the track of a developing tropical cyclone will dictate the potential for a large swell exceeding warning levels from the east to southeast direction.

Surf along north facing shores will remain flat to tiny through the week.

 


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity


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



>>> Atlantic Ocean:
 

Tropical Cyclone Cristobal…located about 880 miles west of the Azores

TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL FORMS OVER THE CENTRAL SUBTROPICAL ATLANTIC

According to the NHC advisory number 1…

Cristobal is moving quickly toward the east near 25 mph. A turn toward the east-northeast and a slower forward motion is expected later today and tonight. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Slow weakening is forecast, and Cristobal is forecast to dissipate on Thursday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center.

 

Central Subtropical Atlantic:

Invest 93L

Recent satellite wind data indicate that the circulation associated with the low pressure area located about 1050 miles east-northeast of Bermuda has become better defined and the system is producing tropical-storm-force winds to the southeast of the center. The system is likely to become a short-lived tropical storm while it moves eastward to east-northeastward at around 20 mph across the central subtropical Atlantic.

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

 

Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

A tropical wave just offshore of the coast of west Africa is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are forecast to be generally conducive for some development of this system during the next several days while it moves westward or west-northwestward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

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

Invest 99E

A low pressure system located about midway between Hawaii and the west coast of Mexico is producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. While this disturbance has changed little in organization during the past few hours, any significant increase in the organization of the associated showers and thunderstorms would result in the formation of a tropical depression today. The system is forecast to move slowly westward or northwestward over the next couple of days and encounter less favorable environmental conditions late this week.

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

 

Central North Pacific: 

Potential Tropical Cyclone 01C…is located about 935 miles east-southeast  of Hilo, Hawaii

DISTURBANCE FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN BEFORE BE NEARING THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BY LATE FRIDAY

The system is moving toward the west near 10 mph and a westward to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center will be nearing the Hawaiian Islands by late Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the system is expected to become a tropical storm during the next day or so.

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

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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

 

Tropical cyclone 14W (Chan-hom)…is located approximately 79 NM west-northwest of Camp Fuji – Final Warning

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1426.gif

 

Tropical cyclone 13W (Peilou)…is located approximately 625 NM northeast of Minami Tori Shima

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1326.gif

 

Tropical cyclone 16W (Nangka)…is located approximately 220 NM east-southeast of Iwo To

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1626.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 Year 2026 Marks a Turning Point for Our Forests

Botany professor Ansgar Kahmen has been studying Switzerland’s forests for years. There has never been a summer as hot and dry as that of 2026 since records began. It is already clear that the forests of northwestern Switzerland are suffering severe damage. The forest of the future will look much different from today, the biologist is convinced.

Professor Kahmen, large forest areas have burned in Portugal, Spain and France. Could this also happen in Switzerland during the dry summer of 2026?

Ansgar Kahmen: No, certainly not on that scale. Switzerland lies in a temperate climate zone, where forest fires generally do not play a major role and tend to be the exception. We have seen occasional fires in recent years, but they are usually not as devastating as those in the Mediterranean region.

Read More: University of Basel