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

 

The latest update to this website was at 533am Monday morning HST


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

0.17  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.21  Punaluu Pump, Oahu
0.08  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.70  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.26  Saddle Quarry, Big Island


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

17  Nawiliwili, Kauai – NE
29  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE
17  Makapulapai, Molokai – SE
14  Lanai 1, Lanai – NE
17  Kealaloloa Rg , Maui – NNE 
21  Kealakomo, Big Island – N


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

  Post-Tropical Cyclone 05E (Elida) and Tropical Cyclone 06E (Fausto) far east-northeast and east-southeast…thunderstorms south of Hawaii

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/14/20262010650-20262011440-GOES18-ABI-HI-14-600x600.gif

Variable low clouds…a few high clouds in the vicinity

 

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

505am, 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 78%

 

We have Tropical Storm Fausto churning the waters of the east Pacific, far to the east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands…which will become Hurricane Fausto pretty soon. It will continue more or less west-northwesterly over the next 4-days or so. It will eventually cross over into our central Pacific (around Sunday), and likely have come back down into the Tropical Storm category by then. From there it appears to spin down further in strength, and eventually get into the area well to the northeast of our islands. If this were to occur it would cut off our trade winds, and we could see the southern part of the associated cloud field bring some showers our way…although it could just as easily do nothing more than bring some very warm and muggy weather our way by the 28-30th of this month. As we know, things will change going forward, so that I’ll keep abreast of these changes and make updates here as warranted.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Sunday, July 19, 2026 – 118 at Stovepipe Wells, CA
>>> Lowest Temperature Monday, July 20, 2026 – 28 degrees near Baker. NV

 

Interesting Weather Blog…Mauka Showers – The Most Common Wind Direction at Hilo is from the West-Southwest?!

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Monday morning:  Light to occasionally breezy trades, with a slight increase in windward and upslope mountain clouds and showers later today into the evening. Recent trade wind behavior will remain steady through mid-week, with a slight strengthening of the winds expected later this week.

Rain coverage may increase Tuesday into Wednesday with increased moisture moving in from the east. Tropical Cyclone Fausto will remain far east and away from our offshore waters by the weekend, but may still influence our trade flow pattern going into early next week.

Weather Commentary…as of Monday morning: A quiet and fairly dry start to the day, as upper ridging engulfing the central Pacific provides the greater subsidence and stability required in maintaining drier weather conditions. Higher moisture advancing toward us from the east will likely boost statewide shower frequency and coverage the next couple of days.

This morning`s slightly below normal precipitable water values of 1.1″ to 1.2″, will be on the rise back to near normal levels of around 1.4″ by tomorrow, in response to greater mid layer moisture arriving. Higher low to mid layer humidity will be the impetus to increased shower frequency later today through Wednesday.

Drier air following this moist air mass will be noticed in lessened late week shower activity. After several days of light to moderate trades, a more favorable orientation of the pressure gradient, back from a large surface high far north of the area, will keep the central Pacific gradient tight enough to support more fresh late week trades.

Tropical Storm Fausto, currently located several hundred miles west-southwest of southwestern Mexico, is steadily strengthening. Fausto is expected to achieve hurricane strength, with a northwest becoming more westerly track through Wednesday. Model guidance has Fausto reaching our central Pacific in about a week,, with it weakening along its northwesterly track as the cyclone encounters western ridging and cooler waters. If TC Fausto stays on a northwesterly track, localized trade flow will be interrupted, with much weaker trades expected early to mid 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 Monday morning: The trade winds will hold at mostly moderate speeds today through Tuesday, then restrengthen back to fresh and locally strong speeds Wednesday through Friday as high pressure strengthens north of the island chain.

The current long period south swell will continue to build today, then peak near the advisory level tonight into early Wednesday. A High Surf Advisory will likely be required as the swell peaks. This swell with then slowly fade during the middle of the week, but will be followed by a new long period south swell arriving on Thursday, which will keep surf elevated above the summertime average through the weekend.

Surf along east-facing shores will remain slightly below seasonal levels today through Wednesday as the trades ease upstream of the islands. East shore surf should then build back close to seasonal levels late this week and through the weekend as stronger trades return over and upstream on the islands. Additionally, swell generated by former Tropical Cyclone Elida may give a slight boost to east shore surf during the middle of the week.

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

 

Wailea vs. Hilo: A Hawaii Travel Guide


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…is located 120 miles south of Panama City, Florida

DEPRESSION GETTING BETTER ORGANIZED …NEW WATCHES ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE GULF COAST

According to the NHC Advisory number 5

The depression is moving erratically toward the northwest near 3 mph. A slow northwestward motion is expected through tonight, followed by a turn toward the west-northwest or west. On the forecast track, the depression will move near or along the northern Gulf coast during the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Satellite imagery and coastal Doppler radar data indicate that the depression is getting better organized, and it is expected to become a tropical storm later today. After that, additional gradual strengthening is expected through Tuesday.

cone graphic

 

Northeast Pacific:

Post-Tropical cyclone 05E (Elida)…is located about 1110 miles west-northwest of the southern tip of Baja California

ELIDA BECOMES POST-TROPICAL …DANGEROUS SURF AND HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONTINUES

According to the NHC Advisory number 24

The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the north-northwest near 13 mph. A turn to the north with an increase in forward speed is forecast the during the next couple days. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. The post-tropical cyclone is expected to continue to weaken and should dissipate within the next couple of days. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.

cone graphic

 

Tropical cyclone 06E (Fausto)…is located about 775 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

FAUSTO CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN …EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE SOON

According to the NHC Advisory number 7 

Fausto is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph. A decrease in forward speed and a motion toward the northwest is expected during the next day or two. A turn back to the west-northwest is expected on Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next couple of days, and Fausto is forecast to become a hurricane later today or tonight. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.

cone graphic

 

>>> Eastern and Central east Pacific:

A broad area of low pressure is forecast to develop well south of Mexico by midweek. Environmental conditions appear conducive for development of the system thereafter, and a tropical depression could form while it moves westward to west-northwestward across the eastern and central portions of the eastern Pacific.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…60 percent

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

 

Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclone

>>> South of Hawaii:

Showers and thunderstorms associated with a trough of low pressure located well south of the Hawaiian Islands remain disorganized. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system as it moves generally westward during the next several days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 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:  New Study Pinpoints Europe’s Most Critical Wetlands for Climate Action

Wetlands have shaped human life in Europe since ancient times. These ecosystems provided essential resources and safe havens for plants and animals, and in many regions they also held spiritual and ritual significance. For millennia, wetlands covered vast parts of the European continent.

Today, the picture is very different. Half of Europe’s wetlands have disappeared due to drainage, cultivation, and resource extraction. Yet wetlands are not only part of our cultural and natural heritage — they are also among the most efficient carbon sinks in nature. But when disturbed, they may shift from storing carbon to emitting large quantities of greenhouse gases.

For this reason, the EU’s Nature Restoration Law requires all Member States to restore at least 30% of their wetlands not in “good condition” by 2030.

Read more at: University of Copenhagen