Glenn James
Hawaii Weather Today
Founder and maintainer for 30 years 

 

The latest update to this website was at 111pm Tuesday (HST)

 

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

3.19  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.35  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
2.45   Hana AP, Maui
0.42  Pahoa, Big Island

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Tuesday afternoon :

12  Puu Lua, Kauai – NE
15  Palehua, Oahu – ESE
18  Makapulapai, Molokai – SE
12  Lanai 1,  Lanai – SW
17  Honolua, Maui – SW
17  South Point, Big Island – SE

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcams on the summit of our tallest mountain Mauna Kea (~13,800 feet high) on the Big Island of Hawaii, and atop the Haleakala Crater (~10,023 feet) 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.

 

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

A cold front northwest…high clouds coming in from the west

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/GEOCOLOR/20260971440-20260972230-GOES18-ABI-HI-GEOCOLOR-600x600.gif

Developing cumulus and thunderstorms near and to the north of Kauai

 

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

  Showers locally…some heavy

 

Please open this link to see details on the current Watches, Warnings and Advisories noted above

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

Glenn’s Tuesday comments:  I’m here in Bend, Oregon on a working vacation.

332am Hawaii time, I’m here at my friend Bob’s house. It’s clear with high cirrus clouds and provided a very colorful sunrise, with a 45.5 degree low. BTW, when I say Hawaii time, it is 3-hours later here in Oregon.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Monday, April 6, 2026 – 97 degrees at Death Valley, CA
>>> Lowest Temperature Tuesday, April 7, 2026 – minus 13 degrees at Big Bay, MI

 

Hawaii’s Broad Brush Weather Overview…as of 329am Tuesday: A notable shift in the weather pattern is underway today, as an upper-level trough and developing surface low organize northwest of the islands. This evolving system is expected to pull deep tropical moisture northward across the state, ushering in a prolonged period of strong southerly winds, widespread showers and thunderstorms, and elevated risk of flooding from mid-week through the weekend.

 

>>> FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL ISLANDS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII...
A deep layered trough will develop west of the islands and
draw abundant moisture northward as it strengthens on
today. Instability and upward forcing will enhance the
available moisture and bring the potential for heavy rain and
thunderstorms leading to flash flooding across all islands in
the state of Hawaii.
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

* WHERE...Kauai, Niihau, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and
  the Big Island.

* WHEN...From Wednesday morning through Friday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Significant flooding may occur due to excessive rainfall
  and overflow of streams and drainages. Roads in several areas may
  be closed, along with property damage in urban or low lying spots
  due to runoff. Landslides may also occur in areas with steep
  terrain.


>>> Moderate to locally heavy showers moving in from south beginning today.
>>> Increased moisture will bring introduce heavy rain episodes an heighten the
risk of flash flooding.
>>> The most likely period for most significant impacts is Wednesday night through
early Friday.

 

Weather Details for the Hawaiian Islands…as of 329am Tuesday: Latest observations show an upper-level trough just northwest of the Hawaiian Islands slowly meandering eastward over the next several days, while ridging at the surface lingers northeast of the state. Finally, a cold front well west of the islands is forecast to track eastward into the vicinity over the course of the next day or so. Winds across the islands remains light to moderate along the windward side of all islands, while even lighter winds/land breezes hold place along on the leeward areas, especially along the Kona coastline of the Big Island due to wind blockage.

A broad surface trough is forecast to develop just ahead of the aforementioned front prior to its approach, resulting in the veering of southeast winds to become more southerly across the Hawaiian Islands. This will cause tropical moisture to be pulled in northward in the southerly flow. Additionally, a moisture band associated with the trough will also develop along side of Kauai and Niihau early this morning, bringing a chance of heavy shower activity. Guidance also supports some heavier showers and thunderstorms developing over the interior of most islands, given the mixture of daytime heating, sea breezes, and the shortwave trough ahead of the front.

As the upper-level trough exits to the east, tropical moisture continues being carried poleward, and may lead to periods of showers tonight through Wednesday morning. Upper-level forcing is forecast to strength again tomorrow, as another vigorous shortwave pivots the base of the previous trough. This may enhance lift over the region as a new surface low consolidates just west of the islands. The deep tropical moisture overspreading the state, combined with the increasing large-scale lifting, supports another widespread and organized rainfall event for the entire state. Because of this, a Flood Watch has been issued for all islands beginning Wednesday morning and lasting through Friday afternoon.

A Winter Storm Watch has also been issued beginning Wednesday morning for a combination of freezing rain and snow on the summits of the Big Island above 12,500 feet, lasting through Friday afternoon as well. There has been careful consideration for a Wind Advisory beginning Wednesday night as southerly winds begin to ramp up, especially in and around heavier showers and thunderstorms, but also in the vicinity of mountain ranges where downsloping gusts over northern and windward slopes can occur. Severe wind gusts (58+ mph) may be possible, though most areas will be in the range of 40 to 50 mph.

As the week comes to an end, model guidance seemingly appears to have come to an agreement compared to the previous run. The general consensus of the GFS and the ECWMF models show the latest pattern is expected to continue through the weekend into early next week, as the moisture band anchors over the state. Longer range models of the GFS finally show much of the rainfall clearing most of the islands by mid-week next week. Of important note, and as previous discussions have already mentioned, one important consideration with this week`s rainfall is antecedent conditions. The islands experienced significant flash flood events in recent weeks, and despite several days of drier trade wind weather, soils remain vulnerable in many areas. As a result, any time period of higher rainfall rates could quickly lead to enhanced runoff, renewed rises in streams and reservoirs, and localized flash flooding concerns.

 

Here’s a near real-time Wind Profile of the Pacific Ocean – Zoom Earth – along with a Closer View of the islands / Vog map animation / 8-Day Precipitation model

https://www.weather.gov/images/hfo/graphics/npac.gif

 

Hawaii’s Marine Environment…as of 329am Tuesday: Southeasterly winds have spread across the islands with a front stalling to the west of the islands. Winds are expected to increase out of the south Wednesday and Thursday, as a low develops across the stalled front. Showers, some locally heavy, will be possible through Friday, as a result of the southerly winds bringing tropical moisture to the north over the islands. Thunderstorms have developed in the offshore waters to the northwest of Kauai, and thunderstorms are possible over the offshore waters through at least Friday.

A moderate, long-period northwest swell will fill in, giving more of a boost to north shore surf through Wednesday. A small, short-period north-northeast swell will fill in before peaking Wednesday and subsiding Thursday. This overlap will make for some rough choppy conditions along north facing shores. A slightly larger, long-period south swell, will increase with a more noticeable increase Wednesday. Surf could reach advisory levels by Wednesday before slowly easing Thursday into the weekend. Strengthening southerly winds will make for rough and choppy surf by late week. East shore surf will remain small and below the seasonal average due to a lack of strong trade winds over and upstream of the islands, except for some wrap from the northerly swells.

 


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 

Atlantic Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones

Caribbean Sea:  There are no active tropical cyclones

Gulf of America:  There are no active tropical cyclones

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

 

Northeastern Pacific:  There are no active tropical cyclones

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

North Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s the link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Southwest Pacific Ocean: 

Tropical Cyclone 30P (Maila)…is located approximately 654 NM south of Kapingamarangi

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/30P_071200sair.jpg

 

Tropical Cyclone 31P (Vaianu)…is located approximately 182 NM southwest  of Suva, Fiji

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/31P_071200sair.jpg

 

North Indian Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones

South Indian Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones

Arabian Sea:  There are no active tropical cyclones

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

 

>>> Here’s a link to the Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC Global) Weather Wall website

 

Interesting: For at least one species, cigarettes might actually be good for health.

For at least one species, cigarettes might actually be good for health.

While smoking is a well-known carcinogen, what’s less appreciated is that scientists have observed some species of birds adding bits of cigarettes to their nests. Scientists in Poland say they have discovered one possible reason why: The cigarettes might be boosting the health of nestlings by warding off parasites.

“Our study indicates that cigarette butts may be used by urban blue tits as an opportunistic adaptive strategy, mimicking the function of aromatic plant materials in parasite control,” the scientists write in a paper published earlier this year in Animal Behavior.

Add this to the mountain of evidence about how species are finding clever adaptations to urban life in the Anthropocene. There are glaring examples, such as raccoons turning into suburban “trash pandas.” There are more subtle cases, such as bacteria that have evolved to feed on plastic.

Then there’s the Eurasian blue tit. The showy little songbird, which resembles a chickadee dipped in blue and yellow paint, is a common site in much of Europe. It’s already shown a knack for adapting to human surroundings, frequenting bird feeders and artificial birdhouses. In the 1920’s, people in Britain discovered the birds were pecking through the foil covers of milk bottles delivered to doorsteps to feed on the thick layer of cream below.

More recently, scientists have observed a somewhat less wholesome habit. Blue tit nests are found to contain cigarette butts. Some of the birds have even been spotted building nests inside enclosed receptacles designed for people to throw away cigarette butts.

A group of Polish scientists who have a long-term project studying blue tits around that city, decided to try to figure out why these birds might be seeking out bits of trash contaminated with everything from arsenic to heavy metals.

One leading hypothesis was that the birds were using these butts as little pest repellents to ward off parasitic bugs such as mites, ticks and fleas that can infest nests and feed on the blood of young birds. In more natural settings, blue tits are known to add pieces of aromatic plants such as lavender and mint to their nests, and there is some evidence it improves nestling health. Scientists in Mexico have also found that house finches there appear to adorn their nests with cigarette butts to battle parasites such as ticks.

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