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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1202pm Sunday afternoon HST


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

0.25  N Wailua Ditch, Kauai
0.02  Poamoho RG 1, Oahu
0.01  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.18  West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.45  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


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

29  Port Allen, Kauai – E
27  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE
24  Makapulapai, Molokai – E
40  Lanai 1, Lanai – NE
36  Kealaloloa Rg  , Maui – NE 
33  Lalamilo, 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.

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Big Blue…click twice for largest version

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/tpw/13/GOES18-TPW-13-900x540.gif

  Tropical Cyclone 05E (Elida) and Tropical Cyclone 06E (Fausto) far east and east-southeast…thunderstorms south of Hawaii

 

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Variable low clouds…a few high clouds in the vicinity

 

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https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/PHKI_loop.gif

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/PHKM_loop.gif

Localized showers…very few 

 

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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

508am, it’s mostly clear here in upper Kula with calm winds, and a low temperature at my place of 54.5 degrees…with the relative humidity 80%

1115am variable clouds over and around Maui County…lots of sunshine prevails along most beaches.

 

We have Tropical Storm Fausto churning the waters of the east Pacific, far to the east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands…which will become Hurricane Fausto in about 2-days from now. It will continue more or less west-northwesterly over the next 4-days or so. It will eventually cross over into our central Pacific (around next Sunday), and likely have come back down into the Tropical Storm category by then. From there it appears to spin down further in strength, and eventually get into the area well to the northeast of our islands. If this were to occur it would cut off our trade winds, and we could see the southern part of the associated cloud field bring some showers our way…although it could just as easily do nothing more than bring some very warm and muggy weather our way by the 28-30th of this month. As we know, things will change going forward, so that I’ll keep abreast of these changes and make updates here as warranted.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, July 18, 2026 – 117 at Stovepipe Wells, CA
>>> Lowest Temperature Sunday, July 19, 2026 – 33 degrees near Baker. NV

 

Interesting Weather Blog…Mauka Showers – The Most Common Wind Direction at Hilo is from the West-Southwest?!

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Sunday afternoon:  Moderate to locally breezy trades will persist through much of the upcoming week, as high pressure remains anchored north of the state. A dry and stable air mass will keep windward showers sparse and leeward areas mostly dry. Trades may ease briefly late in the week, before strengthening again next weekend, as high pressure rebuilds to the north. Tropical systems far east of the state will be monitored, but pose no immediate impacts to the islands.

Short Term Update: Skies were mostly to partly sunny apart from windward locations, where mostly cloudy skies and isolated light showers were noted on satellite and radar. Precipitation amounts over the past 3 hours were 0.45 inch or less at all observation sites. Trade winds continue, averaging 10 to 15 mph with gusts above 35 mph in the typical windy spots. Winds should increase some and hold through the afternoon at moderate to locally breezy speeds.

Weather Commentary…as of Sunday afternoon: Broad surface high anchored well north of the Hawaiian Islands remains the dominate weather feature. This pattern will support moderate the locally breezy trades through the next several days. Trades are expected to ease slightly late in the new week, as the high weakens and shifts northeastward, though this lull should be brief. Guidance continues to indicate the high will rebuild and strengthen during the latter half of the forecast period, allowing trades to increase once again.

Despite this persistent trade wind regime, typical embedded trade showers will remain limited, as a notably dry air mass persists across the state. Water vapor imagery continues to depict wide spread low- to mid-level dry air, and forecast precipitable water values remain around 1 to 2 standard deviations below climatological normals through much of the upcoming week.

However, some model guidance is hinting at a modest increase of moisture Tuesday into Wednesday of the upcoming week, although total accumulation is expected to still be sparse. Overall, rainfall will generally favor isolated, light windward and mountain showers, with leeward areas remaining predominately dry.

Forecast confidence beyond the middle of the new week becomes increasingly dependent on the evolution of the tropical disturbances, currently located well east of the Central Pacific near the Mexican coast. While guidance suggests some westward progression, it remains far too early to determine whether any of these systems, or their associated moisture will influence the Hawaiian Islands. These tropical features will continue to be monitored closely over the coming days as forecast confidence increases.

 

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 afternoon: Fresh to locally strong trades will continue today, and a Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains in effect for the typically windy waters around Maui and the Big Island through 6pm. The trades will ease tonight and Monday as high pressure north of the islands weakens, with the trades then holding at moderate speeds through Tuesday. The trades will restrengthen back to fresh and locally strong speeds Wednesday and Thursday as high pressure strengthens north of the island chain.

Surf along south facing shores will remain a bit below the summertime average today. A larger, south swell is expected to build late today and tonight, then peak around the advisory level Monday into early Wednesday. A High Surf Advisory will likely be required for south facing shores of all islands later today or tonight. As this swell slowly fades during the middle of the week, a new long period south swell will arrive on Thursday, keeping surf elevated through next weekend.

Surf along north-facing shores will remain at flat to tiny levels through next weekend.

Surf along east facing shores will remain close to seasonal levels today, then lower slightly Monday through Wednesday as the trades ease upstream of the islands. East shore surf should then build back close to seasonal levels late in the week through next weekend. Additionally, swell from Tropical Storm Elida may give a slight boost to east shore surf during the middle of the week.

 

18 of the Best Beaches in Hawaii to Visit in Your Lifetime


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: 

Tropical Cyclone 02A…is located 170 miles south-southeast of Panama City, Florida

TROPICAL DEPRESSION MEANDERING OFF THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA

According to the NHC Advisory number 1A

The depression is moving toward the north-northwest near 2 mph and a slow northwestward or north-northwestward motion is expected during the next day or two, followed by a turn toward the west. On the forecast track, the depression will move near or along the northern Gulf coast during the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm tonight or on Monday.

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES19/ABI/SECTOR/ga/GEOCOLOR/GOES19-GA-GEOCOLOR-1000x1000.gif

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical cyclone 05E (Elida)…is located about 985 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California

ELIDA LIKELY TO WEAKEN TO A REMNANT LOW IN A COUPLE OF DAYS

According to the NHC Advisory number 20

Elida is moving toward the north-northwest near 9 mph. The storm is expected to increase in forward speed as it turns further northward over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Steady weakening is expected during the next couple of days, and the cyclone is likely to dissipate by late Wednesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles from the center.

 

Tropical cyclone 06E…is located about 735 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California

DEPRESSION LIKELY TO STRENGTHEN SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS

According to the NHC Advisory number 3 

The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Steady to rapid strengthening is forecast during the next few days. The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm later today and become a hurricane by Monday night or Tuesday.

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES19/ABI/SECTOR/eep/13/GOES19-EEP-13-900x540.gif

 

>>> Eastern and Central east Pacific:

A broad area of low pressure is forecast to develop well south of Mexico during the middle to latter part of the week. Environmental conditions appear conducive for development of the system thereafter, and a tropical depression could form while it moves westward to west-northwestward across the eastern and central portions of the eastern Pacific.

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

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

 

Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclone

>>> South-Southwest of Hawaii:

Disorganized showers and thunderstorms located several hundred miles south-southwest of the Hawaiian Islands are associated with a trough of low pressure. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development of this system as it moves westward and away from the Hawaiian islands during the next several days.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/tpw/13/GOES18-TPW-13-900x540.gif

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> 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:  For Energy Systems That Power a Reliable Grid, the Future is All About Location

Will a warming climate and changing weather patterns lead to more grid blackouts and other energy disruptions? Answering that question requires studying both regional climate forecasts and local energy systems, including emerging renewable generation, storage, transmission lines, and demand forecasts. The lack of such studies is one reason why energy developers and grid operators rarely consider climate change when deciding where to build their next project.

Now MIT researchers have created a way to make more climate-informed energy siting choices, and shown how it can be used to make energy systems more resilient and reduce blackouts. The researchers’ framework, described today in Nature Energy, combines fine-scale meteorology with detailed simulations of energy infrastructure. It shows how the location of new energy projects will play a significant role in meeting future demand in a changing climate.

The researchers applied their framework to decarbonized energy systems in New England and Texas, finding that energy systems designed for historic climate conditions could face up to a fivefold increase in energy shortfalls, potentially leading to blackouts, by 2050. Taking climate change into account when designing the system, conversely, improved the resilience of both regions’ energy systems at no or very little additional costs.

Read More at: Massachusetts Institute of Technology