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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1255pm Saturday afternoon HST


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

0.62  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
1.43  Manoa Lyon Arboretum, Oahu
1.02  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.01  Lanai City, Lanai
3.14  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.90  Waiaha Stream, Big Island


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

25  Lihue, Kauai – NE
35  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE
28  Makapulapai, Molokai – SE
m   Lanai – missing
39  Ukumehame Gulch, Maui – NNE
39  Puuloa, Big Island – NW


Hawaii’s MountainsHere’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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The tropical waters from southwest to southeast and far east-southeast of the islands are active with thunderstorms…along with two tropical cyclones far east-southeast 

 

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 Variable low clouds across the state…high clouds southwest 

 

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Localized showers 

 

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Please open this link to see details on any current Watches, Warnings and Advisories noted above




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Hawaii Weather Narrative
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Glenn’s Saturday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

453am, it’s clear here at my place here in Kula with a low temperature of 55.5 degrees, and the relative humidity is 84%

916am, clouds are forming over upper Kula a bit earlier than usual this morning.

 

A good friend recently sent me a youtube video portraying the poet Mary Oliver. Many of you have never heard of her, and yes, there are those of you who have and love her words…you know who you are.  I just finished watching this documentary, it was a PBS production, and I must say that I loved it. Personally, I must have at least 10 of her poetry books, and even though I’ve read every one more than once over the last several decades or more, I never put them away for long. If you’d care to watch her, and yes there are some very touching moments…here’s a link: Mary Oliver



PDC Weather Wall

Tropical Cyclone Lowell remains active in the eastern Pacific, and as we continue to be in the heart of our hurricane season, we need to keep our eyes peeled for any potential systems taking aim on our Hawaiian Islands.

As such, the NHC has advisories going on two tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific, at least one of which could work its way in our general direction, entering our central Pacific Sunday, and then progressing in a general westward direction into next week.

This first TC has taken on the name Tropical Storm Lowell, although is forecast to become a hurricane early next week. The current forecast track shows Lowell staying to the south of the islands, although as we all know…things can change. The other storm, Tropical Storm Karina, which will likely become a large, major hurricane, is not expected to pose a direct threat to the islands at this time.

cone graphic

time of arrival graphic

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Saturday afternoon: Breezy trades continue well into next week. Showers will generally favor windward and mauka areas, particularly during the overnight through early morning hours each day. An increase in moisture next week could increase shower activity. Tropical Storm Lowell remains far southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, and uncertainty in its track, timing, and intensity forecast remains high at this time.

Weather Narrative..as of Saturday afternoon: The atmospheric soundings from Lihue and Hilo showed a slightly elevated inversion at around 6,500-8,500 feet. This, combined with a band of moisture seen on regional satellite imagery embedded within breezy trades, has resulted in an increase in low clouds and showers during the overnight through early morning hours. Surface observations show that several windward locations, particularly across Maui and the Big Island, picked up between a half inch and one inch since Friday evening.

A drier trade wind pattern will resume today, as mid- and upper level ridging remains anchored near the area, and the band of moisture that moved through overnight exits the region. Breezy trade winds will prevail for the next several days, as strong high pressure becomes nearly stationary north of the Hawaiian Islands.

Occasional showers embedded within the trades will favor windward and mauka areas, particularly during the overnight through early morning hours each day. As the previous narratives have mentioned, an increase in moisture by the middle of next week could increase trade wind showers once again.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami continues to track Tropical Storm Lowell, which was located  ESE of Hilo, moving west around 8 mph. Lowell is expected to strengthen into a hurricane early next week as it continues to move westward. There is a great amount of uncertainty in the forecast thereafter, as it remains to be seen how Tropical Storm Karina (also in the Eastern Pacific) could influence Lowell`s steering flow. Should steering flow weaken as depicted in some global models, this would delay any potential arrival to/around the Hawaiian islands to beyond the 7-day forecast period.

Fire Weather:  Breezy trades will continue through the weekend and into next week, but dew points near 70 degrees will keep RH from reaching critical thresholds. Rainfall will be confined mainly to windward and mauka areas during this time. Today`s inversion is expected to be around 8,000 feet or so, with only minor day to day fluctuations expected through this weekend.

 

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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 MapLooping Surface Precipitation…through the next 8-days / Vog Map

 

Marine Conditions…as of Saturday afternoon: The subtropical ridge will remain locked in place north of the Hawaiian Islands through much of next week, keeping moderate to locally strong trade winds in the forecast for the foreseeable future. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been extended for the windier waters and channels around Maui County and the Big Island through Sunday afternoon. These SCA conditions look to persist through the first half of next week.

Tropical cyclone Lowell may move into the Hawaiian region, potentially bringing an area of hurricane force winds into the southern offshore waters by the end of next week.

The south swell that peaked just below advisory thresholds on Friday, will slowly decline over the next few days. Another south swell will increase surf heights starting on Tuesday, peaking on Wednesday near High Surf Advisory levels, then slowly fading into the end of next week.

Surf along east facing shores will remain choppy in response to the locally strong trade winds over and upstream of the islands. A small medium period east swell from former Tropical Storm Iselle has filled in and will hold through the day.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Friday, August 28, 2026 – 118 degrees at Death Valley, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Friday, August 28, 2026 – 32 degrees at Kirk, OR

 

Landscapes of Hawaii ?? Which one is your favorite? #travel #adventure #sonyalpha


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


>>>
East of the Leeward Islands (Remnants of Dolly):

Showers and thunderstorms have increased this morning in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly, located several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands. However, there are no signs that the system is developing a closed circulation. Redevelopment of this system is unlikely while it moves westward to west-northwestward near 25 mph. The wave could bring locally heavy rains and gusty winds to portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the next several days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…10 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

>>> Northeastern and North-Central Gulf of America:

Disorganized cloudiness and showers over portions of the northeastern and north-central Gulf of America are associated with a weak area of low pressure centered about 100 miles south-southwest of Pensacola, Florida. Development, if any, of this system is expected to be slow while it drifts westward for the next few days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…10 percent 

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 11E (Karina)…is located about 710 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

KARINA MAINTAINS INTENSITY AS IT MOVES NORTHWESTWARD OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN

According to the NHC advisory number 8…

Karina is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph, followed by a more westerly motion over the next day or two. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next several days. Karina is forecast to become a hurricane over the weekend and could become a major hurricane early next week. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 989 mb (29.21 inches).

 

Tropical Cyclone 12E (Lowell)…is located about 1370 miles east-southeast of Hilo, HI

LOWELL MOVING WESTWARD WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH

According to the NHC advisory number 8…

Lowell is moving toward the west near 8 mph. This general motion, along with a gradual increase in forward speed, is expected during the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected during the weekend, and Lowell could become a hurricane by Monday or Monday night. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles mainly to the west of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

 

>>> Well offshore of Southwestern Mexico:

An area of disturbed weather, associated with a tropical wave, is located well to the south of southwestern Mexico. Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form in the next several of days while it moves west-northwestward to northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…40 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…90 percent

 

Central North Pacific

>>> Central Pacific:

An area of low pressure could form well south or southwest of the Hawaiian Islands in the next few days. Some gradual development is possible thereafter and a tropical depression could form during the middle part of next week while the system moves slowly west-northwestward, well offshore of the Hawaiian Islands.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…40 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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

 

Tropical Cyclone 20W (Bang-lang)…is located approximately 377 NM north-northeast of Wake Island

https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/wp2026.gif

 

Tropical Cyclone 21W (Etau)…is located approximately 645 NM north of Wake Island

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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:
El Niño Has Become More Intense Over Last 40 Years Than the Previous 1,000 Years

An El Niño of historic proportion is taking shape in the tropical Pacific. As a result, water temperatures off Santa Barbara climbed into the low 70’s Fahrenheit in late August, and anglers have reported catching dorado and yellowtail around the Channel Islands.

While 2026 promises exceptional conditions, a new study in the journal Science found that El Niño events have become nearly 40% stronger in the last 40 years than they were in the pre-industrial era.

In fact, the authors — who examined modern and ancient corals in the Galápagos Islands — found that El Niño events in the last four decades were stronger than in any of the 1,000 years prior to about 1850, when humans began impacting the climate with greenhouse gases.

“Thanks to these new coral reconstructions, we can go farther back in the eastern Pacific’s past than we ever could before,” said co-author Samantha Stevenson, an assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. “When we do that, we see that El Niño has been getting stronger, and that the changes have really taken off in the past few hundred years.”

Read More: University of California – Santa Barbara

Image: Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean were already far higher than average by the first week of June 2026 due to El Niño.