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

 

The latest update to this website was at 1220pm Wednesday afternoon HST


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

14.28  Mount Waialeale, Kauai!
3.29  Kunia Substation, Oahu
0.01  Kamalo, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Maui
0.27  Pali 2, Big Island


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

35  Puu Opae, Kauai – SE
28  Paakea, Oahu – SE
14  Keopukaloa, Molokai – SE
25  Na Kula, Maui – NW
16  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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   Tropical Storm Nolo west of Hawaii 


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Variable clouds are present over the island chain 

 

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Localized Showers…heavy around Kauai and Oahu

 

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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 Wednesday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

424am, there’s some high cirrus clouds overhead here at my place, with the low temperature 58.5 degrees, relative humidity is 77%…with calm conditions

1206pm, just back from playing pickleball in Makawao, and it’s mostly cloudy here on Maui.


Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday afternoon: The center of Tropical Storm Nolo has moved out of Hawaii`s offshore waters, and will travel west over the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument waters the next several days.

Bands of showers along Nolo`s eastern flank will move up from the south and pass across the islands the next few days, with Oahu and Kauai likely picking up the higher rainfall totals. Breezy southeast winds will persist through the day, weaken through late week, and then transition back to trades early next week.

Short Term Update: Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall affected Kauai this morning. A persistent moist south to south-southwest wind flow associated with the eastern flank of Tropical Storm Nolo, will continue to bring periods of moderate to heavy rainfall from time to time through this afternoon, mainly across Kauai and Oahu.

Latest model output is showing precipitation tapering off by mid afternoon, as a drier air mass moves through the area. The rest of the state should remain dry, although some showers can’t be ruled out. The flood advisory is likely to continue for southern part of Kauai through this afternoon, until drier air moves or rainfall rates diminish.

Weather Narrative…as of Wednesday afternoon: Nolo, which was downgraded to a tropical storm last night, was located approximately 320 miles west of Barking Sands Beach, Kauai, and is drifting west. After slowly wobbling westward the next couple of days, Nolo is currently forecast by the National Hurricane Center to accelerate west this weekend.

Nolo`s far eastern outer bands are providing brief periods of light to locally moderate rain, as they quickly pass up from the south over Kauai and Oahu. While the bulk of the heaviest precipitation remains over the nearshore waters west of Niihau and Kauai the next couple of days, Nolo`s westerly motion will keep return periods of rain moving up from the south in the forecast over mainly the western third of the state through early Friday.

Nuisance flooding of lower lying areas and street ponding may occur, especially across Oahu and Kauai the next couple of days. Breezy southeast winds will continue across the state through Thursday. Southeast to east winds will weaken over the weekend, as Nolo races away to the west and slackens the gradient back toward the islands.

While Nolo will no longer directly impact the state, rain bands along Nolo`s eastern periphery will arrive within the east-southeast wind flow pattern through Friday. An additional 4 to 6 inches of rain with locally higher amounts near 10 inches, is forecast for Kauai and Oahu, respectively, the next few days. The quick passage of these rain bands over a span of a few days keeps the threat for any widespread significant flooding at bay.

Big Island will partially block Maui County from this east-southeast flow pattern. This will result in less cloudy skies over Maui County and leeward Big Island, as local land and sea breezes build interior upslope afternoon cloud cover, producing brief showers. East-southeasterly winds will gradually weaken this weekend with trades carrying in drier air are expected to briefly return early next week.

An upper low located northeast of the state is forecast to sink south early next week. This will push a weak cold front into the far eastern waters Monday or Tuesday. This weak boundary stalls in the vicinity of Big Island, and will disrupt mid to late week trade winds and ultimately produce very light and variable breezes. Relatively drier air behind this front may keep dew points just low enough under this very stagnant wind flow pattern…to decrease humidity levels.

Fire Weather:  Fire weather conditions will improve through the remainder of the week in response to higher southern moisture and moderate southeasterlies.

 

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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 Wednesday afternoon: Moderate to fresh south to southeast winds prevail for most areas as Tropical Storm Nolo slowly drifts westward away from the Hawaiian Islands. For waters surrounding Kauai, stronger southerly winds will continue through the day. Gentle to fresh east to southeast winds prevail across all waters by Thursday.

The moderate, medium period west to southwest swell originating from Nolo will continue for Niihau and Kauai today. A small background south swell continues for other islands. The next small boost in south swell energy will arrive early next week Monday and Tuesday.

Surf along other shores will remain small until moderate trades return early next week, providing a slight boost to east facing shores. Multiple rounds of tiny northwest swell energy will reach north and west facing shores into early next week, as the storms tracking near the Aleutian Islands become increasingly active.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – 104 degrees near La Puerta, TX


>>> Lowest Temperature Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – 22 degrees at Stanley, ID

 

Hawaii Landscape Photography | Tropical Island Art | Max Foster Photography


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



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



Atlantic Ocean: 

Post-Tropical cyclone (Hanna) is located about 1230 miles east of Bermuda

HANNA BECOMES A REMNANT LOW PRESSURE AREA

According to the NHC advisory number 9

The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the east near 5 mph (7 km/h). A turn toward the east-northeast is expected later today with an increase in forward speed on Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. The remnant low should gradually weaken during the next couple of days. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches).

cone graphic

 

Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific

Tropical cyclone 18E (Rachel) is located about 310 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

RACHEL CONTINUES MOVING NORTHWESTWARD…NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT DATA INDICATES THE STORM IS GETTING BETTER ORGANIZED

According to the NHC advisory number 15 

Rachel is moving toward the northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). A northwestward motion at a slower forward speed is expected during the next day or two, followed by a turn toward the west-northwest and west later this week. On the forecast track, the center of Rachel is expected to move away from mainland Mexico and pass south of the Baja California Peninsula through Thursday. Reports from an NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid strengthening is expected today and tonight, and Rachel could become a major hurricane within the next day or so. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km). The minimum central pressure based on the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 978 mb (28.88 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND: Gusts to tropical-storm force are possible along portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico through tonight.

RAINFALL: Rachel is expected to produce additional rainfall totals of 2 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum storm totals of 12 inches, across coastal portions of the Mexican states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

SURF: Swells generated by Rachel will affect the southwestern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days and spread northward along the coast of west-central Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula through the end of the week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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Tropical cyclone 19E is located about 1345 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja CA

DEPRESSION FORECAST TO BECOME A REMNANT LOW TOMORROW

According to the NHC advisory number 6 

The depression is moving toward the east near 14 mph (22 km/h). An eastward to east-northeastward motion is expected over the next day or so. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next day or so, and this system is expected to degenerate into a post-tropical remnant low by late Thursday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1005 mb (29.68 inches).

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>>> South of Southern Mexico:

An area of low pressure could form late this weekend or early next week south of the southern coast of Mexico. Thereafter, environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form while the system moves slowly west-northwestward to northwestward.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…50 percent

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nolo) is located about 340 miles west of Lihue, Hawaii

NOLO CONTINUES TO BRING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO PORTIONS OF THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT

According to the NHC advisory number 41

Nolo is moving toward the south near 3 mph (6 km/h). A turn back toward the west is expected later today, with a faster forward speed in a couple of days. Little change in intensity is expected over the next day or so, followed by re-intensification later this week. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 996 mb (29.42 inches).

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Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 215 NM south-southwest of Yokosuka, Japan – Final Warning

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Tropical Cyclone 26W(Choi-Wan)…is located approximately 331 NM east-northeast of Andersen AFB

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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:  What Stalagmites Reveal About the Climate

Dominik Fleitmann, how did you come to study the climate using stalagmites?

It was through my doctoral research. Using stalagmites as climate archives is a relatively young field. Previously, we mainly knew this kind of approach from ice cores, tree rings, or lake sediments. But stalagmites also give us a very precise view into the past.

How far back have you been able to look?

We studied a stalagmite from Saudi Arabia that was 8 million years old. When we discovered it, our instruments were not yet capable of dating it that far back. That only became possible later.

What can you see in a stalagmite?

An enormous amount. For one thing, we can determine its age with a precision of up to about ten years. To do this, we use radioactive elements: uranium is incorporated into the stalagmite as it grows and gradually decays into thorium. We can measure this process and use it to determine the age with high precision.

Read More: University of Basel