The latest update to this website was at 625pm Tuesday (HST)

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

2.31  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.75  Punaluu Pump, Oahu
0.01  Kamalo, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.01  Hanaula, Maui
0.15  Piihonua, Big Island

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

30  Barking Sands, Kauai – SE
24  Makua Range, Oahu – E
17  Molokai AP, Molokai – SW
09  Lanai 1,  Lanai – SE
23  Na Kula, Maui – E
24  South Point, Big Island – E

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 deepening trough of low pressure northwest of the state

 

https://www.weather.gov/images/hfo/satellite/Hawaii_IR_loop.gif

Increasing clouds moving into the state from the northwest

 

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, especially near Kauai and Oahu…some are 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 at home in upper Kula, Maui

It’s partly cloudy early this morning here at my location, with a chilly low temperature of 47.5 degrees, and the relative humidity is 58%.

1259pm, partly to mostly cloudy here in Maui County

325pm, mostly cloudy with a mix of low, medium, and high level clouds. Heavy rains have reached Kauai and are heading towards Oahu this afternoon…with one smaller area of showers being carried towards Maui County.

625pm it’s cloudy, although they are all middle level clouds, whose bases are above both the West Maui Mountains and the Haleakala summit elevation. I can see a few light showers between here upper Kula and the top of Haleakala…although it’s still dry here at the moment, despite what the radar shows.

 

NWS Weather Prediction Center as of Tuesday morning: 

Prolonged and Powerful Kona Storm To Bring Numerous Impacts Across Hawaii This Week into the Weekend

A high-impact and potentially life-threatening weather pattern will unfold across Hawaii this week, as a powerful and slow-moving Kona Low develops northwest of the state. This system is forecast to bring a prolonged period of torrential rainfall, areas of flash flooding, damaging “Kona” winds, and potentially severe thunderstorms. Global guidance, particularly the ECMWF and GFS models, continue to show good consensus on the evolution of this system.

The combination of a deep upper-level trough and a plume of deep tropical moisture will result in statewide impacts beginning Tuesday across the western islands, spreading eastward and persisting through the upcoming weekend and into early next week. Tropical moisture (PWAT values 1.75-2.00″ will surge northward across the western islands starting Tuesday. Kauai will experience the initial arrival of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms, with the activity spreading eastward to Oahu and Maui by Wednesday. Friday into Saturday, PWAT values peak above 2.0″, with the moisture plume/maximum PWAT axis shifting across the central and eastern islands on Saturday, then lingering along the Big Island Sunday into early next week.

By the weekend, the concern will be with the likely additional heavy rainfall overtop already saturated soils, and therefore the risk of significant flash flooding statewide. Meanwhile the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms peaks Friday into Saturday.

Lastly, the latest model output continues to indicate an extreme to climatologically rare event for the month of March in Hawaii. This as PWAT values are forecast to exceed the 99th percentile of climatology for March across the entire island chain. Several ensemble members are forecasting an ‘extreme’ event well outside the model’s historical distribution, which provides high confidence in the potential for considerable flash flooding.

 

Weather Wit of the day:  Weekend Forecast – “Rain followed by scattered complaints”

 

>>> Highest Temperature Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – 97 degrees near Rio Grande Village, TX
>>> Lowest Temperature Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – minus 2 degrees at Cut Bank, MT

 

>>> I’m going to keep my cell phone and other devices charged up as much as possible, between now and when the worst of this upcoming storm activity is finished with us.

>>> If or when my power goes off, or I lose connectivity, I obviously won’t be able to continue the updating of this website! However, once one or the other returns, rest assured that I’ll immediately begin the normal updating procedures.

 

> Flood Watch entire state through Saturday
> Prolonged heavy rain event through the weekend could lead to significant flooding especially over the leeward sides of the islands.
> Western half: Strong South winds/gusts to 45 mph and possible severe thunderstorms Wednesday
> An even stronger disturbance statewide is expected Friday into Saturday with major flooding and damaging winds expected.

 

NWS: Weather and Flood Watch for Maui County specifically

• Flood watch in effect statewide from Wednesday morning through Saturday (possibly extending to Sunday).

• Expect south-to-south-southwest winds enhancing rainfall on south-facing slopes and leeward areas.

• Forecast split into two phases: heavy rain Wed, lull Thu, renewed intensity Fri–Sat.

• Impacts: overflowing streams, flooded roads, property damage, landslides, boulder falls, gusty winds, thunderstorms.

• Rainfall outlook: 8–10″ common, up to 15–20″ in western islands; worst-case up to 30″ on Molokai.

• Thunderstorm threat moderate first half, higher second half with potential for damaging winds, hail, isolated tornadoes (low confidence).

• Timing: rain arrives ~6am Wed for Molokai, spreads eastward by noon on Maui, and around 9am on Lana‘i.

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/HAWAII_loop.gif

 

Hawaii’s Broad Brush Weather Overview…as of 355pm Tuesday:  A powerful kona storm will impact the state through the weekend, bringing multiple hazards to the islands including significant flash flooding, damaging winds, and strong to severe thunderstorms. Flooding concerns will continue over Kauai this evening and spread to Oahu late tonight, then gradually expand eastward across the island chain through the week. The potential for strong to severe thunderstorms and more widespread flash flooding will increase late in the week and into the weekend.

Hawaii’s Weather Details…as of 355pm Tuesday:  A wide band of deep moisture with widespread showers and embedded thunderstorms on the east side of a broad low far northwest of the state, will continue to impact Kauai and spread eastward to Oahu late tonight. Rainfall rates have remained manageable so far, with most areas of Kauai receiving only a few hundredths to half an inch of rain since early this morning. Precipitable Water imagery shows this moisture band contains precipitable water values ranging from 1.5 to 2.25 inches.

This plume will gradually spread eastward, reaching Maui County by Wednesday and potentially the Big Island by Wednesday night, where heavy showers and thunderstorms will increasingly affect south and southeast slopes. In addition to the abundant moisture, a trough rounding the base of a potent upper-level trough northwest of the state, will provide increasing instability, while favorable upper-level jet dynamics support large-scale ascent.

These ingredients will support periods of heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms and gusty winds. Surface winds will continue to veer southerly across the western half of the state and south-southeasterly across the eastern half tonight, strengthening to breezy levels through Wednesday. This flow will enhance showers along south-facing slopes, with the greatest flooding concerns through Wednesday focused over the western half of the state. By late week into the weekend, the upper-level trough northwest of the islands will continue to sharpen as a strengthening jet streak develops along its western flank and another trough rotates through the base of the trough.

Deep tropical moisture will spread across the island chain during this time, with model guidance continuing to show precipitable water values exceeding 2 inches. While thunderstorms are expected tonight through Thursday, the environment will become increasingly favorable for strong to severe storms Thursday night through Saturday morning as instability and wind shear increase. Strong upper-level divergence will further support organized convection.

By this time, soils may already be saturated, increasing the likelihood of rapid runoff and dangerous flooding. In addition to the rainfall and severe thunderstorm threat, southerly winds are expected to strengthen through the week, with the strongest winds likely from Thursday night into the weekend as the pressure gradient tightens. This pattern may produce dangerous winds at Haleakala and the Big Island summits, along with damaging downslope winds across north through east sections of the islands, capable of downing trees and power lines. Damaging winds may also occur with stronger thunderstorms.

A High Wind Watch has been issued for Haleakala and the Big Island summits from Thursday night through the weekend. Colder air associated with the upper trough combined with increasing moisture may also bring periods of heavy snow to the Big Island summits later in the week into the weekend, potentially requiring winter storm headlines. Long-range guidance suggests unsettled weather could persist into next week. Residents and interests across the state should continue monitoring forecasts as this potentially impactful weather pattern evolves.

 

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 355pm Tuesday:  A powerful kona storm is expected to bring heavy rain, thunderstorms, and rough seas to the islands and adjacent waters through at least this weekend. Winds will veer southerly and increase to fresh to locally strong speeds through late this week as the kona storm approaches. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is in effect for the waters around Kauai through Wednesday evening, where winds will be enhanced by a front approaching from the northwest. By Wednesday night, a relative lull in southerly winds is anticipated as the front weakens temporarily and the SCA is likely to drop at that point. Later this week, possibly as early as Thursday night, a re-intensification of the front over the islands will cause winds to approach, or possibly reach, gale force for portions of the area. These strong winds will slowly creep eastward heading into the weekend.

A series of small, medium- to long-period west-northwest swells will bring small surf to north and west facing shores through the rest of the week. The first of these will continue to build through tonight and peak on Wednesday, resulting in a slight bump in surf along north and west- facing shores. Additionally, a small, medium- period north swell is also possible late this week.

Choppy surf along east-facing shores will continue to trend downward, falling below seasonal levels on Wednesday as winds veer southerly. With the shift of wind direction, surf along south-facing shores will increase, becoming rough and choppy. Late this week, another round of stronger southerly winds will cause south shore surf to build further, meanwhile a series of small, long- period south swells moves through.

 

What To Do In Kauai When It Rains



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

 

Northeastern Pacific:  There are no active tropical cyclones

North Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

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

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean: 

Tropical cyclone 03W (Nuri)…is located approximately 94 NM northwest of Yap

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/03W_110000sair.jpg

 

Southwest Pacific Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones

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:  A study in Stardust: Massive Binary Stars Emit Tiny Carbon Particles

It’s fitting that Yale junior Donglin Wu’s first major scientific journal article as lead author focuses on stardust — tiny solid grains that form from stellar winds, drift into interstellar space, and may eventually become parts of new planets.

Wu has long been in awe of the majesty and mystery of stars. As a kid, in Shanghai, he would stare at the heavens in wonder of what it all meant. He brings that same spirit of curiosity to his studies at Yale, especially in his work with Héctor Arce, a professor of astronomy in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Daisuke Nagai, a professor of physics and astronomy in FAS.

“Astronomy and astrophysics connect to something very romantic,” Wu says. “You look up at the night sky and think about how immense it is. There are so many things that are still unknown — things that are difficult to observe, things that are rare.”

Read More at: Yale University