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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1256pm Friday afternoon HST


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

0.75  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.42  Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.26  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.94  West Wailuaiki, Maui
2.25  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


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

28  Port Allen, Kauai – NE 
35  Kuaokala, Oahu – SW
36  Molokai AP, Molokai – NE
m   Lanai – m
52  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NE
55  Hulukupuna, 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 (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

  Tropical cyclone 01C (Lala) east-southeast

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/14/20262260630-20262261420-GOES18-ABI-HI-14-600x600.gif

Low clouds arriving on the trade winds…counter-clockwise rotating clouds associated with
Tropical Cyclone Lala east-southeast 

 

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…mostly windward oriented over the eastern islands 

 

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

513am, it’s mostly clear here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 54.5 degrees…with the relative humidity 81%

840am, clear over most of Maui, with the exception of low clouds banked up along the windward sides. It feels like the calm before the storm this morning, at least to me here in upper Kula.

 

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 340 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii

cone graphic

Key Messages:

1. Lala is forecast to strengthen and become a hurricane as it 
approaches the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday. A Hurricane Warning 
remains in effect for the Big Island and a Tropical Storm Warning 
has been issued for Maui County. Tropical Storm Watches have been 
issued for Oahu and Kauai Counties. Winds are expected to be the 
strongest in areas of higher terrain.  
 
2. Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Lala will begin to 
impact the Big Island today, spreading westward across the 
remainder of the island chain during the weekend. This rainfall may 
produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas 
of steep terrain.
 
3. Large and dangerous waves, especially on the Big Island, are
expected this weekend, with the greatest impacts along exposed
windward and southern shores. This prolonged period of heavy surf
may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Friday afternoon: Strengthening trade winds will bring scattered showers across windward and mountain areas today. Tropical Storm Lala will move over or just south of the islands this weekend but wind, rain and surf impacts will be felt statewide. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Big Island, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Maui County, and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau.

Weather Narrative..as of Friday afternoon: Breezy and dry trade winds today with limited showers across windward areas.

The main forecast concern for the next few days will be potential impacts from what is now Tropical Storm Lala. Tropical Storm Lala was moving west-northwest around 14 knots (12 mph). Based on the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Lala is expected to move near the southern end of the Big Island Saturday, then continue moving to the west-northwest, with the center of circulation remaining south of the smaller islands.

Impacts from Lala are expected to begin for the eastern end of the state tonight, and continue through the weekend. Remember impacts can occur well outside the center of the storm. Please stay up to date on the latest forecasts, and prepare for the potential impacts described below.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS…Damaging tropical storm force winds may begin as early as tonight across parts of the Big Island. Tropical storm force winds will reach Maui County by Saturday, with the potential for tropical storm force winds to impact the rest of the state later Saturday into Sunday. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Big Island and its surrounding waters, a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Maui County and its surrounding waters, and a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau and surrounding waters. Localized areas of highly enhanced and damaging winds are possible over mountainous terrain, even well away from the tropical cyclone center.

HEAVY RAINFALL…Periods of heavy rainfall are expected starting with the Big Island tonight, reaching Maui County on Saturday, and Oahu and Kauai later Saturday and Sunday. Orographic (mountain) enhancement will result in locally higher rainfall totals where moist tropical flow interacts with island terrain. If heavier rainfall persists over the same locations, flash flooding and rapidly rising streams are possible. The location of heaviest rain currently favors the Big Island and parts of Maui.

The current forecast has 10 to 15 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts across windward Big Island. Rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches are possible on windward Maui and up 8 inches of rainfall could occur across the remainder of the island chain. While the highest rainfall amounts will be focused over windward areas, leeward areas will also have a significant flood risk. Heavy rain could persist into Monday for some areas. A Flood Watch has been issued for the Big Island and Maui County from tonight evening through late Saturday night and for Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau from Saturday evening to early Monday morning.

LARGE AND ROUGH SURF…Lala is expected to generate a large easterly swell as it moves northwestward. Surf may build along exposed east and southeast facing shores from east to west as the system approaches today. Very large and extremely rough seas are expected to rapidly increase Saturday and Sunday on exposed southeast and east shores and may produce damaging surf, significant beach erosion, and overwash across vulnerable coastal infrastructure, mainly on the Big Island of Hawaii.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Hawaii…1 to 3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

FIRE WEATHER…Moderate to breezy trade winds and relatively dry air will raise fire weather concerns today. Criteria for a Fire Weather Watch are not forecast, but it’s close. Temperature inversion heights will range between 5,000 to 7,000 feet today. Increasing humidity and rainfall with Lala will remove fire weather concerns from Saturday into at least early 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 Friday afternoon: Breezy trades continue to strengthen ahead of Tropical Storm Lala today. As such, the Small Craft Advisory has been expanded to cover all coastal waters. Lala is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane on approach to the islands, with hurricane conditions possible as early as this afternoon once the cyclone reaches the offshore waters. Coastal waters near the Big Island will see deteriorating conditions as early as tonight, for which a Hurricane Warning is in effect and a Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Maui County beginning Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are possible for the coastal waters around Oahu and Kauai by Saturday night, for which a Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect. Dangerous conditions including torrential rainfall, a few thunderstorms, and high surf should be expected. Lala will track WNW through the weekend, clearing the western islands by Monday. Tuesday into the rest of the week, a return to easterly trades is expected.

For east facing shores, surf initially trends slowly upward with strengthening trade winds today, but will begin to quickly build tonight as an east swell generated by Tropical Storm Lala reaches the islands. A High Surf Warning has been issued through Saturday night for very large surf along east facing shores of the Big Island and Maui as Lala tracks very close to the Big Island. Surf will be highest for the Big Island, likely exceeding warning level by several feet. High surf will take a bit longer to build for Maui, but warning levels should be reached by late Saturday. Advisory level surf is possible for east facing shores of Oahu and Kauai by Saturday night. As Lala begins to gain distance from the islands on Sunday, surf will rapidly trend down. For north shores, conditions may be choppy with some wrapping swell energy from the east through the weekend.

The High Surf Advisory for south facing shores has been canceled as the moderate, long period south swell that peaked yesterday gradually fades through the weekend. Surf just below advisory criteria along south and west facing shores today will slowly diminish until another long period south swell arrives late Sunday into Monday. This may provide a small boost to surf, but it will remain below advisory criteria for southern shores.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Thursday, August 13, 2026 – 113 degrees near Medicine Lodge, KS


>>> Lowest Temperature Thursday, August 13, 2026 – 35 degrees near Finland, MN

 

How to Plan a Perfect Long Weekend in Kauai


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 


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



>>> Atlantic Ocean:

Central Subtropical Atlantic:

Invest 92L

A tropical wave located about 350 miles east of the Windward Islands is producing gusty winds and a large area of showers and thunderstorms. This system is moving into a region of increasing upper-level winds and dry air, and the potential of development continues to decrease. Even though development is highly unlikely, strong gusty winds and areas of heavy rain are possible across portions of the Lesser Antilles tonight and on Saturday.

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

 

Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

Invest 94L

A tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic, located more than 1000 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. While environmental conditions are conducive for some development over the next few days, the system could encounter strong upper-level winds next week, decreasing its chances for development.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…30 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…40 percent

 

>>> 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.

 

Northeast Pacific: 

Tropical Cyclone 08E (Hernan)…is located 1530 west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

HERNAN NEARLY STATIONARY…WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION

According to the NHC advisory number 8…

The depression is nearly stationary. Hernan is expected to turn toward the west and and move at a faster forward motion tonight into Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Hernan is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone by early Saturday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

 

>>> South of Mexico:

An area of low pressure could form several hundred miles south of the coast of southern Mexico early next week. Some gradual development of this system is possible thereafter while the system moves westward or west-northwestward well south of Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent

 

>>> Western portion of the eastern Pacific:

An area of low pressure could form well to the west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula early next week. Gradual additional development of this system is possible thereafter while it moves generally westward.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent

 

Central North Pacific: 

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 340 miles east-southeast  of Hilo, Hawaii

LALA FORECAST TO BRING HURRICANE CONDITIONS TO THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII ON SATURDAY…HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED ACROSS THE HAWAIIAN ISLAND CHAIN THIS WEEKEND

According to the NHC advisory number 10…

Lala is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days, taking the core of Lala near the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday and then south of the smaller islands on Sunday. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Steady strengthening is forecast, and Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb (29.44 inches).

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/abpwsair.jpg

 

Tropical cyclone 16W (Nangka)…is located approximately 247 NM north of Minami Tori Shima – Final Warning

 

>>> 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: In an Already Broiling Summer, El Niño Is About to Turn up the Heat

El Niño is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead, fueling more severe heat across the globe, according to the U.N. World Meteorological Organization. The forecast comes as blistering heat shatters temperature records from Europe to Asia.

During El Niño, warm waters pool in the eastern Pacific, driving hotter weather around the world, amplifying the impact of warming. El Niño drove record heat in 2023 and 2024, the hottest years ever recorded. This year, forecasters say a strong El Niño will take shape between August and October.

“El Niño is not just on our doorstep — it is inside the house and turning up the heat,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. “And this is only a warm-up act. El Niño is strengthening — adding fuel to a planet already on fire with scorching heat domes, apocalyptic wildfires, and record hot seas.”

Read More: Yale University