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

 

The latest update to this website was at 606pm Sunday evening HST


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

0.86  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.48  Pupukea Rd, Oahu
0.82  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.02  Lanai City, Lanai
1.35  Puu Kukui, Maui
2.17  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Sunday evening: 

35  Port Allen, Kauai – ENE
42  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE 
33  Makapulapai, Molokai – ENE 
33  Lanai 1, Lanai – NE
47  Na Kula, Maui – SE
35  Kealakomo, 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

  Hurricane 06E (Fausto) east, heading in our direction…although will weaken along the way / strengthening Hurricane Genevieve closer to Mexico 

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/GEOCOLOR/20262071640-20262080030-GOES18-ABI-HI-GEOCOLOR-600x600.gif

Variable low clouds…the leading edge of Fausto’s outer cloud/wind field, approaching from the east 

 

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

615am, it’s mostly clear here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 53 degrees…with the relative humidity 80%

1125am, and sunny and very warm day so far here in upcountry east Maui, in contrast, those low gray clouds remain banked up along the coast and slopes.

1232pm, I just found out that it poured for 2-hours this morning in Pukalani, Maui, in contrast to here in Kula, where it has remained dry.

347pm, it’s partly to mostly cloudy here in upper Kula, with that long lasting bank of low clouds along the windward sides. Looking down towards Kihei and Wailea, I see what looks like partly cloudy conditions, with muted sunshine.

 

>>> Interesting weather web blog: Mauka Showers…Hurricane Fausto Heading Towards the Hawaiian Islands

 

We have Hurricane Fausto has crossed into our central Pacific now, to the east of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s looking more and more likely that this system will move by just to our north. If this were to occur, we might see the associated cloud field bring some flooding showers our way Tuesday/Wednesday…along with variable winds later Tuesday into Wednesday. Additionally, we will see rising surf along the east facing shores…generated by Fausto. As we know, things often change going forward, so that I’ll keep abreast of these changes and make updates often.

In sum: Fausto should pass north of the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday night into Wednesday, with the bulk of the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall remaining north of the islands.

>>> For more information about Hurricane Fausto and Hurricane Genevieve, please scroll down this page to the World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity section

cone graphic

time of arrival graphic

IR Satellite Image

 

>>> Highest Temperature Sunday, July 26, 2026 – 121 at Death Valley, CA

>>> Lowest Temperature Sunday, July 26, 2026 – 32 degrees near Kirk, OR

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Sunday evening: A strong high pressure system far north of the Hawaiian Islands will continue to produce moderate to breezy trade winds through Monday, with periods of showers favoring windward mountain areas in the overnight to early morning hours.

Hurricane Fausto remains on track to pass near the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday. The latest forecast for Fausto shows a weakening trend to tropical storm strength, as it moves closer to the island chain. A drier and breezy trade wind weather pattern will return across the state Thursday onward, as Fausto drifts westward away from the Hawaiian Islands.

Weather Commentary…as of Sunday afternoon: Trade winds driven by high pressure far northwest of Hawaii will continue through Tuesday. Incoming clouds and showers will primarily impact windward and mountain areas.

East of the state Hurricane Fausto continues to march west-northwest. Fausto remains on a high confidence track, keeping the center of the storm and the highest impacts passing north of the state. Additionally, the environment ahead of Fausto grows more unfavorable on approach to the islands, and will weaken into a tropical storm before arrival in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands.

That said, we should remain cautious at this stage that even subtle southern shifts in the track, or delayed weakening trends, may still produce changes to our island by island impacts. The public is recommended to pay close attention to this passing storm system, as weather impacts over the Hawaiian Islands early in the new week, will likely evolve over time.

High confidence Fausto impacts…high surf possibly above warning thresholds for east facing shores from Monday through Tuesday. A High Surf Advisory is already in effect for east facing shores through Wednesday, with the possibility of an upgrade to a warning. Lesser confidence impacts include…strong winds to around 40 mph may develop near and north of the low center and possible heavy rain threats from Tuesday through Wednesday.

No time like the present to review your family hurricane preparedness plans, and ensure every household has at least a 14 day supply of food and water available if needed during this years active hurricane season.

A drier and more stable breezy trade wind pattern will fill in across the state from Thursday onward, as Fausto continues to journey westward away from the Hawaiian Islands.

 

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 Sunday evening: Fresh to locally strong trades will persist, then gradually shift to the NNE and diminish through the middle of the week, in response to Hurricane Fausto passing north of the islands. The trades will then ramp back up to fresh and strong levels late in the week into the weekend, as Fausto continues off to the west-northwest away from the state while strong high pressure builds north of the islands. A Small Craft Advisory has been extended through Monday afternoon for the windier waters and channels around Maui and the Big Island.

The current long-period south swell will continue to bring moderate to large surf, before slowly declining Monday into Tuesday. The High Surf Advisory has been extended for all south facing shores.

Currently east facing shores due to the locally strong trade winds will continue to support rough choppy surf. Additionally, nearshore buoys on the eastern side of the islands all have begun to show the long period forerunners of the new easterly swell. This moderate long period energy has promoted the High Surf Advisory for east facing shores through Wednesday afternoon. A Small Craft Advisory may also be needed for high seas for effected windward waters.

Energy from Hurricane Fausto is expected to build and potentially reach High Surf Warning levels by Monday night through early Wednesday. After a brief lull late Wednesday through Thursday, east shore surf will trend back up Friday into the weekend, due to a combination of rising trade wind swell, and a new long period east swell associated with Tropical Storm Genevieve moving in.

A Coastal Flood statement may be issued during the peak of the large surf for vulnerable low-lying coastal roadways, docks, boat ramps, and other coastal infrastructure exposed to the large east swell too.

Surf along north shores remains flat to tiny. Some increase is expected as Fausto or its remnants pass near the region Tuesday and Wednesday, with north shore surf returning to typical flat to tiny levels late Wednesday into next weekend.

 

The best Hawaiian Islands and where to stay in 2025


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.

 

Northeast Pacific:

Hurricane 07E (Genevieve)…is located about 575 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California

GENEVIEVE IS A POWERFUL CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE

According to the NHC Advisory number 11 

Genevieve is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph. A west-northwestward to northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected during the next few days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 155 mph with higher gusts. Genevieve is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible during the next day or so. Genevieve is then forecast to start weakening by the middle of this week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 929 mb (27.44 inches).

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

 

Central North Pacific: 

Tropical cyclone 06E (Fausto)…is located about 740 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii

FAUSTO HOLDING STEADY AS IT CONTINUES WESTWARD ACROSS THE CENTRAL PACIFIC

According to the NHC Advisory number 33 

Fausto is moving toward the west near 15 mph, and a general westward to west-northwestward motion is expected to continue for the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next several days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 984 mb (29.06 inches).

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:  

Tropical cyclone 12W…is located approximately 541 NM northeast of Majuro  

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp1226.gif

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/12W_270000sair.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:  Predicting Where Wildfire Smoke Will Go Next

In recent summers, wildfire smoke has been inescapable across Wisconsin, drifting south from Canada and leading to long stretches of poor air quality. Whether that smoke clears or lingers is often influenced in part by the atmospheric boundary layer — the lowest part of the atmosphere, where airborne particles mix and move.

At night or during cooler weather, the boundary layer compresses toward the ground, sometimes to heights below 100 meters above the surface. Under these conditions, pollutants, including smoke, can become trapped near the surface, increasing exposure and health risks. During the day, as the ground warms, the boundary layer rises and can reach heights of 2,000 meters, enhancing vertical mixing and the dispersion of pollutants. Tracking these changes in near real time is critical for predicting how pollution levels shift and how they may affect public health.

In a new study, University of Wisconsin–Madison statistics professor Chris Geoga and atmospheric scientist Paytsar Muradyan of Argonne National Laboratory are tackling this challenge using machine learning and high-resolution data. Using data from the Department of Energy’s CROCUS Urban Integrated Field Laboratory — a large-scale collaboration led by Argonne — the team developed a model that can estimate boundary layer height in near real time. The work is an important step toward helping public health officials better anticipate how air quality conditions, including smoke impacts, may change — and provide earlier warnings to the public.

Read more at: University of Wisconsin-Madison