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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1237pm Saturday afternoon HST


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

2.39  Kilohana Kauai
0.59  Kamananui Stream, Oahu
0.62  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
1.96  West Wailuaiki, Maui
9.33  Laupahoehoe, Big Island


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

37  Lihue, Kauai – NE
50  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE
42  Makpulapai, Molokai – E
59  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NE
59  Puuloa, Big Island – NW


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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 Category 2 Hurricane Nolo just south of Hawaii…with two tropical cyclones far east towards Mexico


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Variable clouds are present over the island chain…Hurricane Noro just south 

 

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Localized Showers…some 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 Saturday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

450m, it’s partly to mostly cloudy here at my place, with the low temperature 64.5 degrees, relative humidity is 84%…with off and on windy conditions. BTW, even though the low was 64.5 degrees…at the time of this writing it’s an unusually warm 74.2 degrees

615am, now that it’s light I can see lots of rainy looking clouds over along the windward side of east Maui.


Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Saturday afternoon:  Hurricane Nolo remains nearly stationary south of the Big Island, although is expected to make a turn to the west this morning. There remains a chance for flooding over portions of the Big Island and Maui today. Localized strong and gusty winds are possible across all islands, with the highest winds expected on the Big Island and along the ridges on Maui.

Weather Narrative…as of Saturday afternoon: Hurricane Nolo remains about 145 miles south of the Big Island, as it remained nearly stationary throughout the night. The mid level trough remained firmly in place preventing Nolo from beginning its westward track. As a mid-level ridge north of the islands pushes southward, it will help Nolo to begin its westward track.

Upper level clouds continue to stream over the Big Island and are at times passing over Maui County from Nolo. Lower clouds remain over the southeast and east sides of the Big Island, with embedded showers. The highest gauge readings reported 4.00 inches overnight on the Big Island, and about 1.00 inch on Maui. Winds have been strongest over the Kohala ridgeline on the Big Island, and over the West Maui Mountains on Maui, with gusts over 60 mph.

The mid level trough mentioned above will help to draw Nolo north and then northwestward early next week. At this time the forecast keeps Nolo west of Kauai. Toward the end of next week, a light south- to- southeast wind flow is expected to prevail, as the pressure gradient over the state weakens substantially…bringing muggy conditions into play.

Fire Weather:  Winds will remain strong and gusty over the highest terrain of the Big Island and Maui, and gusty trades over Oahu and Kauai. The rainfall on the Big Island will likely mitigate fire danger over most areas. From Kauai to Maui County, rainfall over the last month has led to some improvement in fuels, but the gusty trade winds will produce moderate fire weather conditions over drier leeward areas through the weekend. Drier conditions are expected early next week, although winds will diminish substantially as pressure gradient weakens.

 

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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 Saturday afternoon: Hurricane Warnings around the Big Island and Tropical Storm Warnings around Maui County remain in effect, as Hurricane Nolo begins to accelerate slowly westward today. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the remaining waters today. The Gale Watch for waters around Oahu and Kauai has been trimmed back to tonight and Sunday, as confidence has decreased somewhat in widespread gale force winds developing across the coastal waters.

Nolo is expected to remain south of the Hawaiian Islands, centered well outside of the coastal waters this weekend, but strong winds and high seas can nonetheless be expected well away from the storm itself. The hurricane will gain distance from the islands as it begins to turn northwest by early next week, leading to more limited impacts by Monday.

A combination of southeast swell originating from Hurricane Nolo, and strengthening easterly trade winds, is producing advisory level surf for east facing shores of Kauai and Oahu, and east and southeast facing shores of Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island today. Advisory level surf is expected to continue through Sunday, for which the High Surf Advisory remains in effect. By that point, Nolo will gain some distance from the islands to the southwest, leading to less direct swell impacts and weakening trade winds, which will decrease east and southeast shore surf below advisory criteria. A series of small, medium-period east swells are expected from Hurricanes Odalys and Polo in the East Pacific next week.

South facing shores can expect a moderate rise in surf as Hurricane Nolo tracks south of the islands through at least this weekend. A small, long period northwest swell also fills in this weekend, bringing a small rise to north facing shores into early next week.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Friday, September 25, 2026 – 107 degrees near Tecopa, CA


>>> Lowest Temperature Friday, September 25, 2026 – 25 degrees at Peter Sinks, UT

 

Signs of Rain in Kona — Hui Aloha Kiholo


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



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


Interesting Weather Web blog: Mauka Showers….Hurricane Nolo – Here We Go Again!



Atlantic Ocean: 

Tropical cyclone (Fay) is located about 1130 miles west-southwest of the Azores

 

FAY DRIFTS TOWARDS THE WEST-SOUTHWEST

According to the NHC advisory number 25

The depression is moving toward the west-southwest near 5 mph. A more southerly turn and an increase in forward speed is expected to occur over the next few days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast over the next several days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb (29.80 inches).

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Tropical cyclone (Gonzalo) is located about 145 miles north of Sal Cabo Verde 

 

GONZALO MOVING NORTH OF THE CABO VERDE ISLANDS AND EXPECTED TO DEGENERATE INTO A REMNANT LOW BY SUNDAY

According to the NHC advisory number 7

Gonzalo is moving toward the north-northwest near 10 mph and this general motion is forecast to continue through the weekend, with a slow down and a turn to the west-northwest anticipated early next week. On the forecast track, the center will continue to move away from northeastern portions of the Cabo Verde Islands today. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Additional weakening is forecast, and Gonzalo is expected to become a remnant low in the next 12-24 hours. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).

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Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical cyclone 16E (Odalys) is located about 910 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California

 

ODALYS EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY WEAKEN OVER THE OPEN EAST PACIFIC

According to the NHC advisory number 27

Odalys is moving toward the north near 7 mph, and this motion is expected to continue through today, followed by a sharp turn toward the east and then south-southeast by early next. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 105 mph with higher gusts. Rapid weakening is forecast over the next several days, and Odalys is anticipated to become a post-tropical cyclone by early next week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 965 mb (28.50 inches).

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Tropical cyclone 17E (Polo) is located about 365 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

According to the NHC advisory number 24

Polo is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph. A turn toward the northwest is expected today, followed by a northward motion on Sunday. By Monday, Polo is expected to turn northeastward and approach Baja California Sur. Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph with higher gusts. Polo is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, however Polo is expected to be a strong hurricane when it approaches Baja California Sur on Monday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles  from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. A weather station on Socorro Island recently reported a sustained wind of 40 mph and a gust of 58 mph. The estimated minimum central pressure is 928 mb (27.41 inches).

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>>> South of the Gulf of Tehuantepec:

Invest 90E

An area of low pressure south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec continues to become better organized as shower and thunderstorm activity increases. Environmental conditions are conducive for development, and a tropical depression is expected to form in the next day or two as the system continues to move slowly to the west-northwest or northwest. This motion should keep it parallel to the coast of southern and southwestern Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…90 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…90 percent

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nolo) is located about 145 miles south of South Point, Hawaii

NOLO STILL MEANDERING SOUTH OF THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII …ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL, GUSTY WINDS, AND LARGE WAVES EXPECTED FOR PORTIONS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

According to the NHC advisory number 24

Nolo is nearly stationary. A westward motion with increasing forward speed is forecast later today and Sunday. A turn toward the northwest and north-northwest is expected on Monday and Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Nolo will remain well south and southwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph with higher gusts. Nolo is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane tonight or early Sunday and peak in intensity by early Monday. Thereafter, some weakening is expected. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. The minimum central pressure based on aircraft data is 976 mb (28.82 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND 

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring and hurricane-force gusts are possible in portions of the warning area in areas of steep terrain.

Tropical storm conditions are possible in the tropical storm watch area beginning today. Gusts to tropical storm force are occurring in Maui County in areas of steep terrain.

Regardless of the exact track of Nolo, strong and gusty winds are possible for all of the Hawaiian Islands through the weekend.

RAINFALL: For the eastern and southern portions of the Big Island, Nolo will produce additional rainfall totals 4 to 8 inches with isolated totals of 10 inches, bringing storm totals to 10 to 20 inches with maximum amounts of 25 inches. This rainfall could produce significant, life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

For the western portions of the Big Island, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected. For eastern Maui, additional rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches are expected, bringing storm totals to 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts of 10 inches. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are possible, especially in areas of high terrain.

Across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands, maximum storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected.

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 County…1 to 3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the landfall location, 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.

SURF: Swells generated by Nolo are affecting exposed east- and south-facing shores of the Big Island and are expected to spread westward and build through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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>>> Well East-Southeast of the Hawaiian Islands:

A broad area of low pressure is expected to form within the next day or so about 1000 miles to the east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development of the system, and a tropical depression is likely to form during the early to middle part of next week. The system is expected to move generally northeastward, and remain well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…20 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…70 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 198 NM south-southwest 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

 

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Here’s the link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)



Interesting:  Sharks Can Hear Sounds Nearly 250 Feet Away and Find the Source

Sound travels through the ocean carrying clues about potential prey, predators and other animals, giving sharks an important way to detect what they cannot yet see. But exactly how far a free-swimming shark can hear a sound – and whether it can determine where that sound is coming from – has remained largely unknown.

Now, a new Florida Atlantic University study of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) is helping close that gap. Using an underwater speaker, an aerial drone and free-swimming sharks, researchers found that sharks can detect sounds from considerable distances and respond by dramatically changing direction away from the source – even when the sound source is nearly 250 feet away.

Results of the study, published in the journal Integrative Organismal Biology, provide the first quantified evidence that free-swimming sharks can detect and orient away from sound in the acoustic far field, offering new insight into one of the most fundamental yet least understood senses in these ancient marine predators.

Read more at: Florida Atlantic University