Glenn James

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

 

 

The latest update to this website was at 236pm Wednesday afternoon HST


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

0.19  Kilohana, Kauai
0.11   Kaala, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.13  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.42  Glenwood, Big Island


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

23  Lihue, Kauai – NE
24  Kii, Oahu – ENE
31  Makapulapai, Molokai – ESE
21  Lanai 1, Lanai – NE
32  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NE 
37  Puuloa, Big Island – NW


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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 Cold front far northwest…thunderstorms in the deeper tropics

 

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Localized Showers 

 

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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

445am, it’s clear here at my place, the low temperature was 52 degrees, relative humidity is 80%…with calm winds

1010am, mostly sunny here on Maui with a few popcorn cumulus cl0uds here and there

248pm, it’s cloudy and a bit cool here in upper Kula, almost feels like a shower could fall, although it remains dry at the time of this writing.

 

Here’s the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s Hawaii seasonal outlook: Hilo, Kahului, Honolulu and Lihue each a 75% probability of below-normal three-month rainfall totals for December 2026–February 2027

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday afternoon: High pressure far north of the Hawaiian islands will begin to weaken, allowing winds to decrease to moderate levels for the remainder of the week. Passing showers will be carried in on the trade wind flow over the next several days, with an increase in shower activity this weekend. A more significant change to our weather pattern continues to evolve for early next week from Monday evening into Wednesday. Deeply unstable tropical moisture moving across the state will bring the potential for heavy rain and thunderstorms affecting all islands.

Weather Narrative…as of Wednesday afternoon: Satellite imagery continues to show unsettled cloud bands riding into each island on the trade winds. The water vapor satellite imagery shows a weak upper low that will continue to keep subsidence temperature inversion heights elevated in the 7,000 to 8,000 foot range, allowing for passing showers favoring the overnight to early morning hours through Thursday.

Trade winds will continue to weaken from Thursday to Friday, as a passing mid latitude low pressure system will weaken the pressure gradient over the Hawaii region lasting through the weekend. A significant change to our weather pattern continues to develop by early next week. The long range models continue to show for several model runs, a large band of deep tropical moisture moving northward into the islands.

Several tropical low pressure circulations appear to be embedded within this deep tropical cloud band. These lows would provide the forcing needed to produce a few days of heavy rain and thunderstorms across the state. This band of unstable tropical moisture is over 1,000 miles long, and models tend to handle these larger weather systems with a higher degree of long range accuracy.

The confidence in this heavy rain and thunderstorm pattern developing over the state of Hawaii is fair at this point in time. A Hydrologic Outlook may be needed to cover the rising threats for heavy rain and flash flooding potential during this time period. It would be wise to continue monitoring these weather conditions, including the potential for flash flooding early next week, as this weather pattern will likely evolve over time.

Fire Weather:  Fire weather will remain below critical levels for the next several days. The subsidence temperature inversion near Maui and the Big Island will remain in the 7,000 to 8,000 foot range.

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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 Conditions…as of Wednesday afternoon: High pressure north of Hawaii has begun a weakening trend, and will continue to weaken while shifting east through Thursday. Moderate to locally strong trades will hold through today. The Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been trimmed back to the typically windy waters around Big Island and Maui County. Trade winds will further ease to light to moderate speeds Thursday through Friday as shifts north of the state, disrupting the trade wind flow.

Moderate to locally strong northeasterly trades will return this weekend as a new high builds in from the northwest, and the low sags southeast. Next week’s wind outlook remains uncertain due to vast differences between the location and intensity of a low developing southwest of the state.

Tiny surf along north facing shores will persist. A small northwest swell will arrive Thursday giving a small bump Thursday afternoon and Friday. This will then be followed by a slightly larger mid period north-northwest swell this weekend. A potential storm force low in the process of developing north of Japan, could send a larger long period west-northwest swell early next week. This swell is still uncertain and will depend on the evolution of the developing low.

South shores will remain small before a series of moderate, south-southwesterly swells boost surf heights near to above seasonal average this weekend into early next week.

Rough trade wind swell will gradually decline as trade winds decrease, leading to a down turn in surf through the remainder of the week. A small, medium period east swell is possible Thursday into the weekend, that will help keep surf elevated for east facing shores.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Tuesday, October 20, 2026 – 95 degrees at Death Valley, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Tuesday, October 20, 2026 – 17 degrees near Davis, WV

 

Hawaii aesthetic inspiration ideas


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



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



Atlantic Ocean:

Subtropical cyclone Josephine…is located 585 miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia 

SUBTROPICAL STORM JOSEPHINE FORMS…FORECAST TO MOVE NORTHEASTWARD AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES

Josephine is moving toward the north near 6 mph. The storm should turn northeastward by tomorrow with a large increase in forward speed. On the forecast track, Josephine should move away from the United States and remain south of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is expected, though Josephine is anticipated to remain a subtropical storm through early Thursday. Further strengthening is likely by late Thursday as Josephine becomes a post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds. Winds of 40 mph extend outward up to 415 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.24 inches).

cone graphic

 

>>> Subtropical Central Atlantic:

A trough of low pressure located several hundred miles to the east-southeast of Bermuda is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some development of this system is possible during the next day or two while it moves slowly north-northeastward. Upper-level winds are forecast to become too strong for further development by the weekend.

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


Caribbean Sea:
There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America:
There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 22E (Vance)…is located 730 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico

DEPRESSION STRENGTHENS INTO TROPICAL STORM VANCE …FORECAST TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY

According to the NHC advisory number 2

Vance is moving toward the west near 7 mph. This general motion with a turn toward the northwest then north-northwest is expected over the next few days, with a slight decrease in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Steady to rapid intensification is expected, and the system is forecast to become a hurricane on Friday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

cone graphic

 

Central North Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> Western Central Pacific:

An area of low pressure is forecast to form near the International Date Line, a few hundred miles west-southwest of Johnston Atoll late this weekend or early next week. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development thereafter while the system moves generally eastward to east-northeastward.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 29W (Champi)…is located approximately 399 NM south of Kadena AB                                                                                    

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Southwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea: 

Tropical Cyclone 02S (Agueda)…is located approximately 687 NM east of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania 

 

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



Interesting: 
University of Birmingham Tackles Laboratory Plastic Waste Through Pioneering Recycling Scheme

University of Birmingham takes steps in tackling major sustainability challenge by collecting disposable laboratory gloves for recycling.

The University of Birmingham has completed its first major collection of disposable laboratory gloves for recycling, helping to tackle one of the most persistent sources of plastic waste in scientific research and teaching.

Joining the RightCycle™ laboratory glove recycling program in 2025, the School of Chemistry and the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory are two of the first departments at Birmingham to successfully implement a waste-reducing program of this kind. Through this ongoing collaboration, uncontaminated gloves are collected and processed into new products – rather than being sent for incineration or landfill – highlighting the University’s efforts to take meaningful steps towards reducing laboratory waste.

Read More: University of Birmingham