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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1205pm Sunday afternoon HST


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

2.26  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
3.53  Tunnel RG, Oahu
1.93  Honolimaloo, Molokai
0.48  Lanai City, Lanai
3.66  West Wailuaiki, Maui
2.77  IPIF, Big Island


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

18  Port Allen, Kauai – E
27  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE
29  Makapulapai, Molokai –  ESE
m   Lanai – missing
23  Na Kula, Maui – NE
22  South Point, 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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Major Hurricane Lowell southwest of Lihue, Hawaii…with Tropical Storm Karina well to the east…and  Hurricane Marie spinning away from the Mexican coast

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Variable low clouds across the state 

 

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Major Hurricane Lowell 

 

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Localized showers…locally heavy 

 

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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

831am, it’s mostly cloudy here in Maui County. My low temperature here in upper Kula was 62.5 degrees, with a light shower earlier this morning…and calm winds

11am, partly to mostly cloudy here in Maui County

 

We continue to be in the heart of our hurricane season, so that we need to keep our eyes peeled for systems taking aim on our Hawaiian Islands through the end of November.


Hurricane Lowell

cone graphic

IR Satellite Image

[Image of U.S. rainfall potential]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Sunday afternoon:  Breezy east-northeast trade winds will gradually veer to the east and then east-southeast this weekend into the upcoming week, as Hurricane Lowell approaches from the southwest. Lowell is forecast to pass west of Kauai`s coastal waters Monday night. Impacts such as high surf and heavy rain are forecast to extend hundreds of miles from the center, potentially impacting any of the islands.

Weather Narrative..as of Sunday afternoon: Hurricane Lowell is south-southwest of Kauai. Lowell is expected to move northward, and pass west of the Kauai coastal waters late Monday through Monday night. Tropical Storm force winds are expected to reach Kauai and Niihau at the the closet approach, and thus a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Kauai County and the surrounding coastal waters.

Additional impacts from Lowell are expected statewide. A High Surf Advisory is in effect for south and east facing shores. The south swell is from Lowell, and the east swells are from Tropical Storm Karina, which is about 1000 miles east of Kauai. Karina is expected to dissipate within the next 48 hours when its a few hundred miles east-northeast of Kauai. Showers have already been focused over the windward sides of the islands in the trade wind flow.

As the winds shift to the southeast tonight, showers will spread to additional areas of the islands. The interaction of the terrain with moisture spreading over the islands could lead to heavy rainfall, which could cause some flooding. Thus, a Flood Watch is in effect for all islands starting at noon today, and persisting through Tuesday afternoon. With Kauai and Niihau being the closest to Lowell, rainfall totals are expected to be highest there, but due to the terrain influence on the Big Island, isolated areas could receive significant rain.

Due to an unstable airmass moving over the islands, thunderstorms are possible starting tonight and persisting statewide through tomorrow. These thunderstorms could produce heavy rainfall which could also lead to some flooding. Stay alert for the issuance of any flood advisories or warnings. The threat of short-lived, fast-moving tornados/waterspouts will be present mainly near Kauai and Niihau, as Lowell makes its closest approach to the islands. These would likely be embedded in rainbands. The threat for tornadoes is lower near the remaining islands, but not zero. The threat for tornadoes should decrease quickly early Tuesday morning.

Any deviation in track or intensity could also change how these hazards effect the islands. High pressure is forecast to build back in Thursday through Saturday, bringing in a more typical trade wind pattern, with a drier and more stable airmass.

Fire Weather:  Fire weather risk will remain low through the forecast period due to increasing moisture associated with Hurricane Lowell. The temperatures inversion heights are currently near 11,000 ft from Maui to the Big Island, and are expected to remain elevated during the next few days.

Hydrology: Heavy rain is possible tonight through Tuesday afternoon, and as a result, a Flood Watch is in effect for the entire state. Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches for Kauai, with maximum totals of 14 inches possible. For the Big Island, 4 to 8 inches of rain is expected with isolated totals of 12 inches possible, due to the terrain influence with the southeast flow. Across the remaining islands, rainfall of 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected, with Maui having isolated maximum totals of 8 inches possible. This rainfall may produce significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island.

 

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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: A surface high persists north of the Hawaiian Islands and will slowly drift east through the weekend. Currently, Hurricane Lowell is around 540 nm south-southwest of the islands as it continues to track west. The trade winds are beginning to ease slightly as Lowell gains a bit of distance from the island chain, and the Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been trimmed back to only the windier waters and channels around Maui County and the Big Island through this afternoon. Lowell is expected to turn northward on Sunday, which will cause winds to veer to the southeast to south with the strongest winds over the western end of the state.

Confidence has grown with the latest updates from the National Hurricane Center for the potential for hurricane conditions in the offshore waters west of 160W Sunday night through Tuesday. While confidence is increasing in the track forecast of the cyclone, a deviation in track of 50 nm west or east from the current predicted path will have significant differences in impact for the coastal waters around Kauai County. As for Hurricane Karina, it is expected to weaken and pass northeast of the state.

Southerly swell generated by Hurricane Lowell will keep surf along south facing shores at High Surf Advisory criteria today. As Lowell begins to turn north on Sunday, its swell will gradually veer from south to southwest and begin a rapid upward trend. Very large surf exceeding warning criteria appears increasingly likely for south and west facing shores on Monday. Coinciding also with monthly high tides, this will create the potential for impacts to harbor entrances, channels, as well as coastal properties and infrastructure including roadways. Surf will then rapidly decrease on Tuesday after the hurricane passes north of the island chain. A pulse of northwesterly swell could then bring a bump to north shore surf on Tuesday and fade through Thursday.

East facing shores will see continued advisory level surf from a large, medium-period east swell generated by Hurricane Karina to the east of the islands. This swell will gradually fade early next week as Karina weakens into a tropical storm. Late next week, surf along east facing shores could be bolstered by some medium-period swell generated by Hurricane Marie in the East Pacific. Otherwise, expect choppy conditions from easterly trade wind swell through the week.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, September 5, 2026 – 107 degrees near Topock, AZ


>>> Lowest Temperature Saturday, September 5, 2026 – 24 degrees near Old Station, CA

 

Hawaii Landscape Photography Prints | Fine Art Wall Art | Aaron Reed


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


Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

 Northeast Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 13E (Marie)…is located about 695 miles south-southwest of San Diego, California

MARIE TO CONTINUE PRODUCING DANGEROUS BEACH CONDITIONS ALONG THE COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR ANOTHER COUPLE DAYS

According to the NHC advisory number 23…

Marie is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph (11 km/h). A turn toward the west- northwest is forecast tonight. Marie is then expected to resume a northwestward heading at a faster forward speed on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Steady weakening is expected to continue for the next several days, and Marie is forecast to become a post-tropical remnant low on Wednesday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 980 mb (28.94 inches).

 

Central North Pacific

Tropical Cyclone 11E (Karina)…is located about 655 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii

KARINA EXPECTED TO BECOME A POST-TROPICAL GALE BY TONIGHT

According to the NHC advisory number 42…

Karina is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h). A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next day or two, along with an increase in forward speed. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Weakening is expected, and Karina is forecast to become a post-tropical gale by late tonight. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 996 mb (29.42 inches).

 

Tropical Cyclone 12E (Lowell)…is located about 545 miles south-southwest of Lihue, Hawaii

LOWELL TURNS TO THE NORTH …TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS EXPECTED ON KAUAI AND NIIHAU BY LATE MONDAY

According to the NHC advisory number 43…

Lowell is moving toward the north near 6 mph (9 km/h). A northward to north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected through Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Lowell will move across portions of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, just west of the main Hawaiian Islands, Monday night. Lowell is forecast to turn toward the northwest and slow down by early Wednesday after passing the Hawaiian Islands. Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts. Lowell is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strength is expected through today, but gradual weakening is forecast to begin tonight. Lowell is expected to remain a hurricane while passing near Hawaii. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (85 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). The minimum central pressure based on dropsonde data is 948 mb (28.00 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected in Kauai County by Monday afternoon or evening. Wind speeds atop and on the windward and leeward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds, and wind gusts to hurricane force are possible. Hurricane conditions are expected in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument between Nihoa and French Frigate Shoals Monday night, with tropical storm conditions beginning Monday afternoon.

RAINFALL: Hurricane Lowell is expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with maximum totals exceeding 10 inches possible, for Kauai and the Big Island. For Maui, 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected, with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches possible. Across the remaining islands, rainfall of 1 to 2 inches with maximum amounts of 4 inches is possible. This rainfall may produce locally significant flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and 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…

Kauai County…1-3 ft
Oahu…Up to 1 ft

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

TORNADOES: Several tornadoes are possible near Kauai and Niihau Monday afternoon through Monday night. A few tornadoes are also possible across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands.

SURF: Swells from Lowell are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions during the next several days across many of the Hawaiian islands.

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 22W (Krovanh) is located approximately 209 NM east of Kadena AB

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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:  Drought Intensifies Across Puerto Rico

The month of May typically marks the onset of the wet season in Puerto Rico. But in 2026, rain had largely failed to materialize as of late August, and much of the U.S. territory found itself in the throes of drought. The dry conditions have contributed to water shortages and rationing in some areas, leading Puerto Rico’s governor to declare a state of emergency in late July and the U.S. government to issue a drought disaster declaration for more than two dozen cities and towns in late August.

This map depicts the extent and severity of drought in Puerto Rico on August 25, 2026. It was produced by the U.S. Drought Monitor, a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA. NASA has contributed Earth observations and expertise to the project for many years, and in 2026, the partnership was strengthened when two agency scientists joined the small team that authors the weekly drought assessments.

Effects of the hot and dry conditions appeared in a variety of satellite data products and ground-based observations that the U.S. Drought Monitor considers when creating its weekly assessments, said David Mocko, a senior research scientist in the Hydrological Sciences Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. For recent updates to Puerto Rico’s drought maps, satellite estimates of soil moisture, as well as weather, streamflow, and well observations, were particularly important factors, he said. Mocko authored the U.S. Drought Monitor update for August 18, 2026. He and Jonathan Case of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center are the first from the agency to produce the weekly maps.

Read More: NASA Earth Observatory