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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1225pm Thursday afternoon HST


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

0.28  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.63  Manoa Lyon Arboretum, Oahu
0.25  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.90  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.50  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


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

18  Nawiliwili, Kauai – NE
31  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE
18  Molokai AP, Molokai – NE 
27  Lanai 1, Lanai – E
33  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NE
31  Lalamilo, 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. 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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Thunderstorms in the deeper tropics south…tropical disturbance in the eastern Pacific  

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Clear to variably cloudy 

 

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Localized showers…mostly windward 

 

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




~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

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

It’s mostly clear here in Maui County with calm winds at my place, and with a cool low of 50.5 degrees and the relative humidity is 80%


>>> Highest Temperature Wednesday, May 27, 2026 – 103 degrees at Rio Grande Village, TX
>>> Lowest Temperature Thursday, May 28, 2026 – 23 degrees near Green Valley Lake, CA

 

Hawaii’s Broad Brush Weather Overview…as of Thursday morning: Breezy trades will continue through the day, as strong high pressure remains north of the islands keeping showers focused mainly over windward and mountain areas. Trades are projected to gradually weaken later this week as an upper-level trough approaches from the west, leading to a subtle increase of moisture across the islands.

As the weak trough exits to the east, diminished cloud cover and drier conditions will return through the weekend. Light trades will continue through early next week, supporting development of localized land and sea breezes at times. Isolated scattered showers will persist favoring windward and mountain locations.

Weather Details for the Hawaiian Islands…as of Thursday morning: A broad surface high pressure ridge anchored well north of the Hawaiian islands will remain the dominant weather influence the next couple of days. This pattern will support continued breezy trades and maintain periodic showers focused over windward and mountain areas.

However, a weak upper-level low and associated trough approaching from the west will gradually meander over the state by tomorrow. As this occurs, trades are expected to temporarily weaken, with a subtle increase of moisture across the islands, leading to a modest increase in cloud cover and shower activity through the morning.

This will be short-lived, though, as the trough is expected to exit as quickly as it arrived. The passing upper-level trough will weaken the strong pressure gradient associated with the surface high. Consequently, windward areas will experience lighter winds, creating potential for localized land and sea breeze developments across the rest of the islands heading into the weekend.

By late weekend, a surface low tracking southward from the Aleutian Islands s is forecast to split the broad surface high north of the islands, further suppressing the trades. Although trades are expected to remain on the lighter side, they should still provide sufficient airflow to help cap afternoon humidity levels statewide.

Trades are expected to gradually recover by mid-week next week. This return to the standard trade regime will reintroduce scattered showers, primarily favoring windward and mountain areas. However, June is typically climatologically drier, so any shower activity will remain limited within the broader dry seasonal pattern.


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 Environmental Conditions…as of Thursday morning: Breezy to strong trade winds are on a slow decline, as a weakness develops within the ridge to the north of the islands. Trades will continue ease through the weekend. The Small Craft Advisory for the waters near Maui County and the Big Island has been extended through tonight, as the latest guidance suggests winds may stay elevated just a bit longer than originally anticipated. A more significant weakening of the trade winds is likely this weekend into early next week, as a large North Pacific low pressure system far north of the islands breaks the ridge down even further.

The current small, long-period northwest swell appears to have peaked late yesterday afternoon, and has been very slowly subsiding overnight. Expecting north- and west-facing surf to continue to gradually subside into the weekend.

A series of medium-period south swells will continue to bring small surf to south facing shores today. Some readings from buoy 51002 suggest some of those swells could be a little larger than originally anticipating. A more significant long-period south swell is expected to begin filling in tonight, and will likely bring above- advisory- level surf to south-facing shores Friday and into the weekend. This swell originated from a storm- force low that passed south and east of New Zealand over the weekend, generating seas of 35 to 40 feet or greater within Hawaii’s swell window, though the peak of the energy may pass just east of the state. The buoys near American Samoa picked up a portion of this swell today, seeming to peak around 5 feet 16 seconds, with the peak of the swell also likely passing to their east. Elevated surf along south-facing shores will likely continue into the first week of June, due to a continued active weather pattern near New Zealand sending swells toward Hawaii.

Rough surf along east-facing shores will gradually lower through the weekend as trade winds ease.

 


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: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

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

 

>>> Eastern Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

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

 

>>> Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones

Routine issuance of the Tropical Weather Outlook will begin on June 1, 2026.

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

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean: 

Tropical Cyclone 06W (Jangmi)…is located approximately 876 NM south-southeast of Kadena AB

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/06W_281200sair.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:  Seedling Census Offers Clues to What the Future Might Hold for Michigan Forests

The history of a forest might be measured by the trunks and branches looming overhead. But for some MSU researchers, a forest’s future lies in what’s growing under their feet.

Every summer for nearly three decades, a team led by EEB core faculty member Richard Kobe has made their way to Manistee National Forest in northwestern Lower Michigan to look for new trees that have sprouted.

At less than a year old, the youngest seedlings growing in the under story aren’t much taller than their toes.

Read More at: Michigan State University

After monitoring newly sprouted trees like this ironwood seedling growing in Michigan’s Manistee National Forest for 25 years, researchers noticed that certain species that showed up as seedlings at some sites were rarely present as full-grown trees. They have been trying to figure out what keeps some young trees from flourishing and living out their lifespan.