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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1207pm Sunday afternoon HST


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

0.65  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.03  Moanalua RG, Oahu
0.06  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.45  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.38  Pahoa, Big Island


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

20  Lawai, Kauai – ENE
36  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – SE
28  Makapulapai, Molokai – ENE
m   Lanai – missing
48  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE
52  Puuloa, Big Island – W


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.


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Big Blue…click twice for largest version

 

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   Tropical cyclone 01C (Lala) far northwest…moving farther away / Tropical Cyclone 02C (Moke) south of Hawaii / Tropical Cyclone o9E (Iselle) offshore from Mexico although will be heading west-northwest

 

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cone graphic

cone graphic

 

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Clouds associated with TC Moke south-southeast

 

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Localized showers…some heavy around the Big Island

 

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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

426am, it’s clear here at my place here in Kula with a low temperature of 57 degrees, and the relative humidity is 85%

1058am, today has a completely different look and feel to it compared yesterday. Saturday was sunny and clear most of the day, while today started off clear and sunny, and in contrast today is partly to mostly cloudy…with increasing clouds as we head towards the afternoon hours.

 

Interesting Weather Blog: Mauka Showers…After Lala?…We Have to Deal With a Moke?

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Sunday afternoon:  Locally strong and gusty trade winds will prevail today as Tropical Storm Moke moves westward, several hundred miles south of the islands. Moisture along the northern periphery of Moke will bring wet conditions and a risk of flash flooding on the Big Island through Monday, while less rainfall is expected to impact windward sections from Maui to Kauai over the next couple of days. Trade winds will gradually ease Monday and Tuesday as Moke moves westward away from the area, with drier trade wind weather returning midweek.

Short Term Update:  While the heaviest rainfall associated with Moke is confined just south of the coastal waters at this time, showers are increasing on windward Big Island. Rates so far have been relatively light, around one quarter of an inch or less per hour across the Puna and Hilo Districts. Due to the prevailing wind direction, little rainfall has reached the Kau District so far, but as winds in the lower atmosphere veer more easterly to southeasterly this afternoon and tonight, chances for heavy rain and flooding will increase in that area.

Weather Narrative..as of Sunday afternoon: Latest satellite loop shows deep convection from Tropical Storm Moke flaring up roughly 200 miles south southeast of Hilo. Low level clouds and moisture on the northern periphery of the cyclone can also be seen racing westward towards Big Island at a steady clip. Radar is picking on these bands and depicts scattered light to embedded moderate shower activity.

Radar estimated rain rates remain unimpressive though, mainly below a tenth of an inch an hour. By early afternoon, the high resolution model guidance all indicate a rather stark increase in rainfall coverage and intensity, along eastern portions of Big Island. It will not take a significant amount of rain to cause flash flooding due to saturated grounds from recent heavy rain from TC Lala.

Thus, a Flood Watch will remain in effect for Big Island through Monday afternoon. Rainfall amounts for the event appear in good order, as NHC’s track for Tropical Storm Moke barely budged from the previous advisory package. Storm total forecast for windward and southeast Big Island remains at 5 to 10 inches with locally up to 15 inches, 3 to 6 inches for eastern Maui, and generally 1 to 2 inches elsewhere across the island chain.

Locally strong trade winds persisted overnight as Hawaii remained sandwiched between low pressure of Tropical Storm Moke south of the state, and a 1025 millibar surface high to the northeast. A Wind Advisory remains in effect through this evening for portions of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Big Island. Strongest sustained winds will continue to occur over mountain ridges, gaps and where winds blow downslope off higher terrain. Observed speeds in these areas have generally been sustained 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. Winds across the ridge tops of the Koolau and Waianae mountain ranges may near advisory criteria later today as trade wind showers and/or deeper moisture bands from the northern periphery of Moke begin to arrive.

Trade winds across all islands should begin to ease back to moderate by tonight. Tuesday through the end of the upcoming work week, drier air will move in from the east, and typical trade winds/showers should return.

 

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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 afternoon: Northeast winds have strengthened across the Hawaiian Island coastal waters, mainly around windward Big Island, as a result of Tropical Storm (TS) Moke passing west across the far southern offshore waters. Moke’s low level center of circulation was approximately located 225 nautical miles south southeast of South Point, Big Island. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the offshore waters.

Intense convection associated with this storm is flaring up north of its center and will impact the southeastern offshore waters today. An all-water Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is in effect to account for fresh to locally strong trades, between surface high pressure located far northeast of the islands and TS Moke. Higher winds and short period wind wave swell generated by TS Moke may push up significant sea heights across Big Island windward waters today.

East-facing shore surf will build today in response to strengthening trades. Surf along east and south-facing shores will be impacted by a short period east southeast swell generated by TS Moke, as well as northeast wind wave swell as a result of these stronger trades. As Moke passes by to the south today and Monday a mounting southeast swell will veer and become south to southwest. This small, short period captured easterly fetch from TS Moke may push Big Island east surf to near advisory levels later today.

Surf along most south-facing shores will be slightly below summer norms, but still remain somewhat elevated due to a lingering small, long period south southwest swell. A medium to long period south swell is expected to arrive Monday and Tuesday, which will maintain these near summertime heights.

Small, medium to long period west to north swell originating from Hurricane Lala, is passing around north and west-facing coasts today.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 121 degrees at Death Valley, CA


>>> Lowest Temperature Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 34 degrees near near Kirk, OR

 

The wild side of Hawaii ????? I've been to Hawaii so many times now and these islands just mean something different to me every visit, they really have a special place in


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


>>> Northeastern Atlantic:

A non-tropical area of low pressure located a couple of hundred miles west of the coast of Portugal is producing limited shower activity. This low is no longer anticipated to acquire any subtropical characteristics before moving over Portugal and Spain early tomorrow.

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

 

>>> Central Subtropical Atlantic:

Invest 95L

Satellite images indicate that showers and thunderstorms are showing some signs of organization associated with an area of low pressure located about 400 miles southeast of Bermuda. Further development of the low is possible, and this system could become a short-lived tropical depression or storm during the next couple of days while it moves northward and north-northeastward, well northeast of Bermuda.

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

 

>>> Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

A tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa on Monday, and an area of low pressure could form in association with the wave early this week. Environmental conditions are forecast to be marginally conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form by the middle to latter portions of the week while the system moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…50 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 09E (Iselle)…is located about 535 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

TROPICAL STORM ISELLE FORMS WELL OFFSHORE OF MEXICO

According to the NHC advisory number 2…

Iselle is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph and this motion is expected to continue through Monday, followed by a gradual turn toward the west-northwest on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next day or two, and Iselle could become a hurricane Monday night or early Tuesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb (29.56 inches).

cone graphic

 

>>> Central East Pacific:

Invest 91E

Disorganized showers and thunderstorms are persisting with a broad area of low pressure located well to the south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Environmental conditions could support the development of a short-lived tropical depression during the next day or two before it interacts or merges with the disturbance to its northeast (EP92).

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

 

>>> Well southwest of southwestern Mexico:

Another area of low pressure is expected to develop well south of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula during the middle portion of this week. Some slow development is expected thereafter, and a tropical depression could form by the end of the week while the system moves generally west-northwestward.

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

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 365 miles northeast of Kure Atoll

LALA REMAINS A STRONG TROPICAL STORM OVER OPEN WATERS

According to the NHC advisory number 46…

Lala has somewhat decelerated, and is now moving toward the west-northwest near 5 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next several days. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 988 mb (29.18 inches).

 

Tropical Cyclone 02C (Moke)…is located about 320 miles south-southwest of Hilo, Hawaii

HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS LIKELY OVER THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII TODAY AND TOMORROW

According to the NHC advisory number 14…

Moke is moving toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue during the next several days. On the forecast track, the center of the storm is expected to pass south of the Big Island of Hawaii today, then well south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands early next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Moke is forecast to slowly lose strength and could become a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

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 Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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Tropical Cyclone 17W (Saudel)…is located approximately 584 NM east-southeast of Kadena AB

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Tropical Cyclone 18W (Narra)…is located approximately 113 NM east-southeast of Hanoi, Vietnam

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Tropical Cyclone 19W…is located approximately 286 NM north-northwest of Yap

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>>> 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: Buildings That Cool Like African Elephants

During sunny and sweltering summer days, much relief comes from sweat. As beads of moisture evaporate on the skin, they pull heat away almost invisibly. It feels like a nuisance, but this is one of the most efficient cooling systems in the animal kingdom.

But not all animals have the ability to sweat. The African elephant is one example, enduring intense heat out on the African savanna with dark gray, inches-thick skin. How does it stay cool?

“Wrinkles,” says Dorit Aviv, an associate professor of architecture in the Weitzman School of Design. “Elephants have a network of cracks in their skin that trap water. When they spray themselves, that water stays put and evaporates slowly, cooling them over time.”

Read More at: Penn State University

Inspired by the cracked, water-retaining skin of African elephants, architect Dorit Aviv and materials scientist Shu Yang have designed a cement-based tile that captures and slowly evaporates water, lowering surface temperatures without air conditioning. The approach, pictured in this prototype by Weitzman PhD student Ji Yoon Bae, could help cities stay cooler while cutting the energy and emissions tied to conventional cooling systems.