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

 

The latest update to this website was at 846pm Thursday evening HST


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

0.57  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.42  Kaala, Oahu
0.86  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.01  Lanai City, Lanai
2.22  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.89  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


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

29  Port Allen, Kauai – NE
35  Kuaokala, Oahu – ENE
29  Makapulapai Molokai – ENE 
35  Lanai 1, Lanai – NE
35  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE
32  Pali 2, 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 

 

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

502am, it’s mostly clear here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 52.5 degrees…with the relative humidity 79%

135pm, it’s cloudy this afternoon upcountry, although still quite sunny down near the beaches.

817pm, partly cloudy here in upper Kula, with my temperature 65.6 degrees…and the relative humidity is 75%

 

We have Hurricane Fausto continuing to churn the waters of the eastern Pacific, far to the east 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 Saturday. From there it may eventually get close to Hawaii, or move by not 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

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

time of arrival graphic

 

>>> Highest Temperature Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 121 near Death Valley, CA

>>> Lowest Temperature Thursday, July 23, 2026 – 33 degrees at Ketchum, ID

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Thursday evening: Breezy to locally windy trades are expected through Friday, then moderate to breezy trades will persist through the weekend, carrying periodic showers to windward and mountain areas. Tropical Cyclone Fausto (or its remnants) may impact the state towards the middle of next week, but it`s too early to determine potential impacts.

Short Term Update: This evening’s satellite imagery is confirming what the near term guidance is depicting; that of a dry air mass is blanketing the state. Typical trade showers with the thickest overcast piling up along the higher terrain, and the greater precipitation of generally a half an inch or less falling over windward exposures.

Today`s highest rainfall winner of slightly under an inch was in Big Island’s Kawainui Stream gauge near the Hamakua Coast. Trade speeds will generally remain breezy to occasionally windy across the traditional windward exposures the next couple of days. Shower and cloud behavior will remain constant, as well, where the higher rainfall and thicker overcast will focus along windward upslope mountains and within the higher terrain.

Weather Commentary…as of Thursday evening: Radar and satellite imagery show drier air filtering across the state on the trade wind flow, with isolated showers moving into windward and mountain areas. Robust high pressure to the far north will generate breezy to locally windy trades across the state through the end of the week. Trade wind speeds will then drop a notch to moderate to breezy levels this weekend, as the high moves farther to the west.

With deep ridging persisting over our area, a somewhat drier trade wind pattern is expected to persist through the weekend, as shower activity is suppressed by subsidence. However, minor increases can be expected during the overnight to early morning hours, and when minor batches of moisture filter across the Island chain.

Next week, 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 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, it remains too early to predict any direct impacts from wind or rainfall in 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 Thursday evening:  High pressure far north of the state will maintain fresh to locally strong trades through the weekend. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is in effect for all Hawaiian waters through Friday. 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 this weekend and may lead to a reduction in area for the SCA beyond Friday. 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 over the weekend) in the central Pacific.

The High Surf Advisory (HSA) has also been extended through Friday as a long-period south swell is forecast to peak tonight, with advisory level surf likely continuing into Friday as it begins to trend down. Friday night, it is possible that surf briefly falls below advisory criteria before another reinforcing long-period south swell arrives for Saturday and may push surf back up to advisory level. Regardless of whether there is a brief break or advisory level surf is maintained, there is potential for the HSA to be extended into the weekend. However, this next southerly pulse looks to be somewhat shorter period and lower energy than the last. The south swell will then slowly decline through the first half of next week.

Surf along east-facing shores will remain rough and choppy, supported by strong easterly trade winds combined with a small, medium-period east swell generated by former TC Elida. The latter swell fades through Friday while trade wind swell continues. This weekend, larger surf generated by Hurricane Fausto is possible and could bring advisory level surf along east facing shores by late Sunday into early next week.

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

 

Natural Area Reserves System – Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Native Ecosystems Protection & Management


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: 

Remnants of Tropical Cyclone 02A (Bertha)…is located 40 miles west-northwest of Houston, Texas – Last Advisory

BERTHA HAS DEGENERATED INTO A TROUGH

According to the NHC Advisory number 19

The remnants are moving toward the west near 14 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 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 1745 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii

FAUSTO STRENGTHENS A BIT MORE

According to the NHC Advisory number 21 

Fausto is moving toward the west near 15 mph, and this motion is expected to continue over the next few days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph with higher gusts. Little change in intensity is forecast through tonight, followed by steady weakening through the weekend. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 976 mb (28.82 inches).

cone graphic

 

>>> Eastern and Central east Pacific:

Invest 98E

An area of low pressure located several hundred miles south of the coast of southern Mexico is producing a large area of showers and thunderstorms that are showing signs of becoming better organized. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression or storm is likely to form in the next day or so, while the system moves generally west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph and remains well offshore of Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…90 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

>>> Well Southwest of Hawaii:

An area 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 while it moves slowly west to west-northwestward, and a tropical depression is likely to form after it enters the western Pacific basin later this weekend or early next week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…20 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…70 percent

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:  

Tropical cyclone 11W (Noul)…is located approximately 285 NM north-northeast of Manila, Philippines

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1126.gif

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/11W_240000sair.jpg

>>> 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 Longer, Hotter Reality Surrounds Marine Heatwaves, New Study Finds

Anyone who has boiled a pot of water understands that it takes both time and energy to raise the temperature, so it may come as a surprise to learn that scientists have long treated marine heatwaves (MHWs) as isolated events. New research led by William & Mary’s VIMS & Batten School is challenging that narrative by providing a framework to characterize an ecosystem’s cumulative heat exposure from MHWs and the extended periods of warm water that precede and follow them.

The study, published in Nature’s Communications Earth & Environment, classifies periods of warming leading up to and following MHWs and provides a framework for assessing cumulative heat exposure. The research aims to provide a more effective measure of ecological impacts by treating MHWs as part of broader warming events, rather than isolated events, based on long-term observations from across 20 U.S. estuaries.

“We started to notice these warm-water anomalies on either side of marine heatwaves and realized that they’re actually embedded within larger periods of warm water,” explained lead author Ricardo Utzig Nardi M.S. ‘25, a research specialist working with coauthor Piero Mazzini, assistant professor at VIMS & the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. “It sounds obvious, but studies usually focus only on the marine heatwave window and that’s not an accurate representation of real-world conditions.”

Read More at: Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Periods of sustained warming can last for weeks to months at a time, with a distinct marine heatwave embedded between them and significant implications for estuarine ecosystems and habitats like seagrass beds.