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

 

The latest update to this website was at 524pm Wednesday evening HST


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

5.04  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
1.37  Poamoho RG 1, Oahu
0.19  Keopukaloa, Molokai
0.34  Lanai AP, Lanai
0.72  Puu Kukui, Maui
2.03  Piihonua, Big Island


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

30  Lihue, Kauai – ENE
33  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – SE
31  Makapulapai, Molokai – E 
32  Lanai 1, Lanai – ENE
42  Na Kula, Maui – ENE 
40  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 (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

  Hurricane 06E (Fausto) far east-southeast 

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/GEOCOLOR/20262031840-20262040230-GOES18-ABI-HI-GEOCOLOR-600x600.gif

Variable low clouds…higher level clouds in the vicinity too

 

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 

 

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

 

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

441am, it’s cloudy with a light shower here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 62 degrees…with the relative humidity 87%

920am, cloudy here in Kula, and there was a light mist when I was out on my first walk, although I can see lots of sunshine beaming down near the coasts and in the central valley.

310pm, what a change in the weather, from cloudy and wet to sunny and dry this afternoon here in Maui County!

 

We have Hurricane Fausto churning the waters of the east Pacific, far to the east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. It will continue more or less west-northwesterly over the next several days. It will cross over into our central Pacific around Saturday. From there it may eventually get rather close to Hawaii, or move by not too far to the north. If this were to occur, we could see the associated cloud field bring showers our way towards the middle of next week. Additionally, we should see rising surf this weekend along the east facing shores…generated by Fausto. As we know, things may change going forward, so that I’ll keep abreast of these changes and make updates here as warranted.

cone graphic

time of arrival graphic

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/tpw/13/GOES18-TPW-13-900x540.gif

 

>>> Highest Temperature Wednesday, July 22, 2026 – 118 near Tecopa, CA

>>> Lowest Temperature Wednesday, July 22, 2026 – 40 degrees at Leadville, CO

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday evening: Expect moderate to breezy trade winds to increase in strength through the week, and carry passing showers to windward and mountain areas.

Weather Commentary…as of Wednesday evening: Radar and satellite imagery show drier air gradually filtering across the state from east to west, with the greatest focus over Kauai. In fact, Kauai has been the main focus for rainfall across the state in the short term, with 12-hour rainfall totals ranging generally between 1 and almost 5 inches across the typical wetter areas. High pressure to the far northeast will gradually move southwestward over the next couple of days and strengthen. This will allow the moderate to breezy trades felt across the state to strengthen over the second half of the week.

Minor batches of moisture will filter in on the trade wind flow, bringing periodic increases in windward and mountain showers through the weekend, particularly during the overnight to early morning hours.

Next week, the weather across the state will depend on the eventual track and intensity of Tropical Cyclone Fausto. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting a gradual weakening of this system as it tracks westward and enters into the Central Pacific this weekend, with further weakening expected early next week, as it moves into a more hostile environment with cooler waters and increased shear. At this time, its too early to predict any direct impacts from Fausto on Hawaii, though confidence is increasing in east-facing shores receiving a decent swell late this weekend into early next 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 Map / Looping Surface Precipitation…through the next 8-days / Vog Map

 

Marine Conditions…as of Wednesday evening:  High pressure far northeast of the state will maintain fresh to locally strong trades through tonight, for which a Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains in effect for the typical windier channels and waters around Maui and the Big Island for the strengthening trade winds. Trades are expected to strengthen another notch Thursday into Friday, which has prompted an expansion of the SCA to all Hawaiian Waters for Thursday and Thursday night. Widespread fresh to strong winds are expected during this time with near gales possible for the windier waters around Maui County and the Big Island. The strong high to the north is expected to eventually shift westward and weaken some, which should allow the trade winds to weaken a notch around Sunday. Trends in the strength and direction of winds early next week become less clear as a result of the uncertain track of a weakening Hurricane Fausto (forecast to become a tropical storm by Monday) in the central Pacific.

The current medium-period south-southeast swell producing above average surf along south-facing shores will continue to gradually fade over the next few days. Offshore buoys are showing an increase in energy over 20 second periods as forerunners from the next notable incoming south swell slowly fill in tonight. A High Surf Advisory (HSA) has been issued from 6 am Thursday as surf is expected to increase to advisory levels through the day on Thursday. There is also potential to approach warning levels late Thursday into Friday as the swell peaks. Over the weekend, reinforcing long-period swell energy may allow advisory level surf to persist and may require an extension of the HSA.

Surf along east-facing shores will remain slightly below seasonal levels through the evening due to the weaker trades upstream of the islands. The Hilo buoy continues to show a small, medium- period east swell this evening, which was likely generated by former TC Elida. Stronger trade winds will also support an increase of short-period energy heading into Thursday and Friday. This weekend, larger surf generated by Hurricane Fausto is possible and could bring advisory level surf along east facing shores.

Surf along north-facing shores will remain at flat to tiny levels through the weekend.

 

Learn To Unlock the Awesome Power of Hawaiian Photographs – Latitudes Gallery


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

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

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

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

 

>>> Gulf of America: 

Tropical Cyclone 02A (Bertha)…is located 75 miles southwest of Biloxi, Mississippi

BERTHA NEAR THE SOUTHERN LOUISIANA COAST…TROPICAL STORM WARNING EXTENDED WESTWARD TO THE UPPER TEXAS COAST

According to the NHC Advisory number 15

Bertha is moving toward the west near 12 mph A generally westward motion is expected during the next day or so. On the forecast track, the center of Bertha will move near or along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts through Thursday afternoon, and then move farther inland into Texas Thursday evening and Thursday night. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected during the next day or so, and Bertha is forecast to maintain tropical storm intensity up until it reaches the upper Texas coast on Thursday. Bertha is expected to dissipate inland over Texas by Thursday night or Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km) from the center. An oil platform south of the Louisiana coast recently reported sustained winds of 43 mph at an elevation of 82 feet. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).

cone graphic

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES19/ABI/SECTOR/ga/13/GOES19-GA-13-1000x1000.gif

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical cyclone 06E (Fausto)…is located about 925 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

FAUSTO CONTINUES MOVING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AND HOLDING STEADY IN STRENGTH

According to the NHC Advisory number 17 

Fausto is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph. A continued west-northwestward to westward motion, along with an increase in forward speed, is expected over the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph with higher gusts. Slight strengthening is possible during the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening on Friday and into the weekend. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 982 mb (29.00 inches).

cone graphic

 

>>> Eastern and Central east Pacific:

A tropical wave located a few hundred miles off the coast of Central America is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Gradual development of this system is expected, and a tropical depression is likely to form over the weekend while it moves generally west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph, remaining well offshore of Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…50 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…90 percent

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

 

Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclone

>>> Southwest of Hawaii:

A trough of low pressure located well southwest of the Hawaiian Islands is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form over the weekend or early next week while the system moves slowly westward to west-northwestward. The system is forecast to move into the western Pacific basin on Sunday.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…70 percent

 

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

>>> 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:  URI Researchers Discover Rare Freshwater Mussels in Moosup River

When University of Rhode Island researchers slipped beneath the surface of the Moosup River recently, they did not expect to find a living freshwater mussel community. The discovery marked the first documented record of freshwater mussels in the river in more than three decades and included rare native species considered sensitive indicators of river health.

Graduate students Jamie Bucholz and Mallory Malz in URI’s Department of Natural Resources Science identified the mussel community during a survey of the river, which flows through northeastern Connecticut and western Rhode Island.

It’s a major milestone and a rare piece of good news for one of the world’s most overlooked endangered animal groups.

Read More at: University of Rhode Island

The discovery of freshwater mussels includes rare native species considered sensitive indicators of river health; shown, Margaritifera, Wood River.