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

 

The winds are off an on very gusty here in Kula, Maui, enough so that I’m concerned that my power will go out, and if so, I’ll be unable to do any additional updating to this website. I’ll be back as soon as possible after the power returns.

 

The latest update to this website was at 503am Saturday morning HST


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

1.51  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.74  Tunnel RG, Oahu
2.60  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.01  Lanai 1, Lanai
5.15  Puu Kukui, Maui
10.43  Kawainui Stream, Big Island


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

30  Lihue, Kauai – NE 
42  Kuaokala, Oahu – SW
36  Makapulapai, Molokai – NE
m   Lanai – m
66  Na Kula, Maui – NE
60  Puu Mali, Big Island – E 


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.

https://weather.gc.ca/data/satellite/goes_gwdisk11_1070_100.jpg

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 01C (Lala) southeast

 

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/CP01/refresh/CP012026_5day_cone+png/150554_5day_cone.png

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/hi/14/20262270550-20262271340-GOES18-ABI-HI-14-600x600.gif

Counter-clockwise rotating clouds associated with
Tropical Cyclone Lala approaching Hawaii 

 

time of arrival graphic

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

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

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

Localized showers…many are 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

203am, it’s cloudy with off an on showers, some are heavy here in upper Kula with strong and gusty winds, meanwhile, the temperature at my place is a relatively warm 66 degrees…with the relative humidity 81%

436am, it continues to be windy and wet here in upper Kula , and fortunately the power is still on.

 

>>> I would highly recommend keeping all your devices charged up, as we could very easily have power outages!

>>> I made lots of ice in my freezer, to use to keep my refrigerated food from going bad, if the power goes out!

 

Interesting Web blog: Mauka Showers…Lala Inbound – Are You Ready?

 

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 110 miles southeast of South Point, Hawaii

 

Key Messages:

1. Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected on the Big Island of Hawaii, with the strongest wind gusts expected in areas of higher terrain. Preparations should be rushed to completion before tropical-storm-force winds begin. Tropical-storm-force winds are also expected across portions of the smaller islands this weekend.

2. Heavy rainfall will reach the Big Island and spread westward across the remainder of the island chain this weekend. This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

3. Large and dangerous waves are expected across portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend. Surf is already building along east-facing shores and will increase along exposed southern shores as Lala passes through the region. This heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of early Saturday morning: Tropical Storm Lala will move over or just south of the islands this weekend but wind, rain and surf impacts will be felt statewide. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Big Island, and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the rest of the state.

Short Term Update: Latest satellite imagery loop continues to show an area of deeper convection spinning cyclonically a few hundred miles east-southeast of the Big Island in association with Tropical Storm Lala. The 2am NHC advisory had the center of Lala located about 140 miles southeast of South Point.

Ahead of the impending storm, winds across the state have already begun to ramp up with gusts in the 40 to 60+ mph range along ridge tops and wind prone areas of leeward Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Maui. Gusts to 40 to 55 mph have been observed at select sensors on the Big Island, in the lee of the Kohala Mountains and around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Radar shows light to moderate rainbands rapidly pushing onshore over windward Big Island from the northeast. Rain rates, however, have remained below half and inch and hour. Conditions should continue to deteriorate through the day, as Lala approaches from the southeast with a possible landfall on the Big Island by this afternoon.

Weather Narrative..as of Saturday morning: The main forecast concern for the next few days will be potential impacts from Tropical Storm Lala. Tropical Storm Lala was moving west-northwest around 14 mph. Based on the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, Lala is expected to move near the southern end of the Big Island Saturday, then continue moving to the west-northwest, with the center of circulation remaining south of the smaller islands. Remember impacts can occur well outside the center of the storm.

Please stay up to date on the latest forecasts, and prepare for the potential impacts described below.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS…Tropical storm conditions are beginning on the Big Island of Hawaii, with hurricane conditions expected later today. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Maui County later today and tonight, on Oahu tonight and Sunday, and in Kauai County on Sunday. Wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater.

HEAVY RAINFALL…Lala is expected to produce rainfall totals of 10 to 20 inches across the Big Island, with maximum totals of 25 inches possible. Rainfall of 8 to 12 inches is expected across eastern Maui, with totals of 4 to 6 inches, and maximum amounts of 8 inches, across western Maui and the remainder of the island chain. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain.

LARGE AND ROUGH SURF…Swells generated by Lala are steadily building along east-facing shores and will continue to increase through the weekend. Swells will also build along exposed southern shores as Lala passes south of the islands. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

STORM SURGE: Highest storm surge up to 3 feet is forecast for the eastern side of the Big Island.

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…1 to 3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, 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.

 

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 Saturday morning: Breezy trades continue to strengthen ahead of Tropical Storm Lala. As such, the Small Craft Advisory has been expanded to cover all coastal waters. Lala is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane on approach to the islands, with hurricane conditions possible as early as this afternoon once the cyclone reaches the offshore waters. Coastal waters near the Big Island will see deteriorating conditions as early as tonight, for which a Hurricane Warning is in effect and a Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Maui County beginning Saturday.

Tropical storm conditions are possible for the coastal waters around Oahu and Kauai by Saturday night, for which a Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect. Dangerous conditions including torrential rainfall, a few thunderstorms, and high surf should be expected. Lala will track WNW through the weekend, clearing the western islands by Monday. Tuesday into the rest of the week, a return to easterly trades is expected.

For east facing shores, surf initially trends slowly upward with strengthening trade winds today, but will begin to quickly build tonight as an east swell generated by Tropical Storm Lala reaches the islands. A High Surf Warning has been issued through Saturday night for very large surf along east facing shores of the Big Island and Maui as Lala tracks very close to the Big Island. Surf will be highest for the Big Island, likely exceeding warning level by several feet. High surf will take a bit longer to build for Maui, but warning levels should be reached by late Saturday. Advisory level surf is possible for east facing shores of Oahu and Kauai by Saturday night. As Lala begins to gain distance from the islands on Sunday, surf will rapidly trend down. For north shores, conditions may be choppy with some wrapping swell energy from the east through the weekend.

The High Surf Advisory for south facing shores has been canceled as the moderate, long period south swell that peaked yesterday gradually fades through the weekend. Surf just below advisory criteria along south and west facing shores today will slowly diminish until another long period south swell arrives late Sunday into Monday. This may provide a small boost to surf, but it will remain below advisory criteria for southern shores.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Friday, August 14, 2026 – 111 degrees near Medicine Lodge, KS


>>> Lowest Temperature Friday, August 14, 2026 – 35 degrees near Old Station, CA

 

Wet weather, winds push through islands Monday


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 


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



>>> Atlantic Ocean:

Central Tropical Atlantic:

Invest 94L

A tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic about midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Limited development of this system is possible over the next day or two before the system encounters strong upper-level winds to the east of the Lesser Antilles.

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

 

>>> Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

Southeastern Caribbean Sea:

Invest 92L

A tropical wave over the southeastern Caribbean Sea is producing gusty winds and an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Development of this system is not expected due to strong upper-level winds and dry air. Gusty winds and areas of heavy rain are still possible across portions of the Lesser Antilles today.

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

 

>>> Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

 

Northeast Pacific: 

Tropical Cyclone 08E (Hernan)…is located 1690 west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

HERNAN EXPECTED TO BECOME A REMNANT LOW TODAY

According to the NHC advisory number 11…

The depression is moving toward the west near 12 mph and this general motion is expected to continue through the next few days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Slow weakening is forecast during the few days, and Hernan is forecast to degenerate to a remnant low pressure area later today. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

 

>>> South of Mexico:

An area of low pressure could form several hundred miles south of the coast of southern Mexico near the middle portion of next week. Some gradual development of this system is possible, while the system moves westward or west-northwestward well south of Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent

 

>>> Western portion of the eastern Pacific:

An area of low pressure could form well to the west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula by the middle of next week. Gradual development of this system is possible thereafter while it moves generally westward across the western portion of the east Pacific.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent

 

Central North Pacific: 

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 110 miles southeast  of South Point, Hawaii

OUTER RAINBANDS FROM LALA SPREADING OVER THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII …HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING AND STRONG WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS THIS WEEKEND

According to the NHC advisory number 13…

Lala is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph. Some erratic motion is likely later today and tonight while Lala interacts with the Big Island of Hawaii. After passing the Big Island, Lala is expected to turn westward on Sunday with an increase in forward speed, with the core of the storm staying south of remainder of the main Hawaiian Islands and the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands through the early part of next week. Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible today, and Lala could be near or at hurricane intensity while it is near the Big Island of Hawaii. Weakening is expected tonight and on Sunday, but some restrengthening is forecast by late Monday and Tuesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles from the center. Strong tropical-storm-force wind gusts are occurring on the Hawaiian Islands from the Big Island to Oahu. The estimated minimum central pressure is 991 mb (29.27 inches).

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:

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

 

Tropical cyclone 16W (Nangka)…is located approximately 247 NM north of Minami Tori Shima – Final Warning

 

>>> 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: Amid Drought, Hundreds of French Rivers Are Drying Up

An ongoing drought in Europe has sapped French rivers. Officials say that 43 percent of small waterways in France have been partially or completely dried up.

Of the more than 3,000 small waterways in France, 1,373 have seen their flow interrupted or halted, according to an analysis from the French Office for Biodiversity. The agency said rivers were desiccated in every region, describing the drying as “the most critical situation ever observed at this time of year.”

Large waterways have also been hard hit. On the Loire River, water levels typically drop in the summer, inhibiting boat travel, but this year sightseeing boats had to suspend operations a month earlier than usual as the river dried up. In Paris, the Seine is being sustained by flows released from reservoirs that stored up surplus water over the winter.

Read More: Yale University