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

 

The latest update to this website was at 9116am Wednesday morning HST


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

1.02  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
2.04  Moanalua RG, Oahu
2.15  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.12  Lanai City, Lanai
2.74  Puu Kukui, Maui
1.58  Honolii Stream, Big Island


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

25  Lihue, Kauai – NE
32  Kuaokala, Oahu – S
32  Makapulapai, Molokai – E
m   Lanai – missing
33  Honolua, Maui – SE
43  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. 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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Hurricane Lowell south-southeast of Hawaii…with Hurricane Karina far east…with soon to be Hurricane Marie spinning closer to the Mexican coast

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Variable low clouds across the state

 

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Category 4…and forecast to become a Category 5 Hurricane Lowell (with wind gusts to 184mph)!

 

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

503am, it’s partly cloudy here at my place here in Kula with a low temperature of 60 degrees, and the relative humidity is 86%

 

We continue to be in the heart of our hurricane season, so that we need to keep our eyes peeled for systems taking aim on our Hawaiian Islands through the next three months…through the end of November.

This first TC is Major Category 4 Hurricane Lowell, with the current forecast track showing Lowell staying to the south of the islands, although the models show the system taking a hard turn towards the north just after passing Hawaii. We don’t want to see another Hurricane Iniki situation on Kauai! The other system, Major Category 4 Hurricane Karina, should move by to the northeast and north.

cone graphic

time of arrival graphic

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday morning: The trade winds are slowly edging upwards and are expected to build to strong and gusty levels over the windier spots across Maui County and the Big Island today. Winds will be on the increase across Kauai and Oahu as well, but not quite as strong as the southern islands. This increase in winds is in response to Hurricane Lowell, currently east-southeast of Hilo, as it passes by to our south, and a high pressure system far to the north.

Moisture being carried in on the trade winds will focus clouds and showers mostly to the windward and mauka areas, particularly during the overnight through early morning hours each day. The forecast remains uncertain for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, due to both Lowell and Karina remaining in the central Pacific over the coming days.

Weather Narrative..as of Wednesday morning: A Wind Advisory has been issued for portions of Maui County and the Big Island starting at noon today. The advisory goes through 6am Friday, but may need to be extended in time and/or expanded to additional areas. Winds were already approaching advisory levels yesterday, and there is good model agreement that winds will increase today.

Radar and satellite imagery shows an area of clouds and showers continuing to move through the islands from east to west, in association with a surface trough. After this trough and its associated moisture moves to the west of the islands later this morning, the pressure gradient between a high far north of the islands, and Hurricane Lowell to the south will tighten. This in turn will lead to the trade winds increasing. Shower activity will return to more typical trade wind weather showers, at least until this weekend.

Hurricane Lowell is about 460 miles east-southeast of Hilo this morning. The latest forecast track from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) will have Lowell passing about 400 miles or so south of the islands over the next couple of days, before it turns to the north. This northward turn of the system will be determined by the interaction of Lowell, with an upper level low the models depict sinking south towards the islands this weekend. A lot of details on the timing and exact track of the system, coupled with associated impacts, remain to be ironed out. There is uncertainty as to when that northward turn will happen.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Karina is about 1490 miles east of Hilo this morning, and the latest forecast from the NHC has it moving to the west-northwest through Friday, before lifting further to the north over the weekend. As Karina moves northeast of the islands this weekend and early next week, it will help to disrupt the strong trade wind flow, prompting our winds to return initially to more moderate levels…and could lead to lighter winds.

Due to the uncertainty with the forecast tracks of both Lowell and Karina this far out, the details of the forecast for this upcoming holiday weekend are still being flushed out. In general a general trade wind pattern is in the forecast with the possibility of increased shower activity across the state, due to moisture reaching the islands from the south, and being carried in on the trade wind flow.

Fire Weather: Trade winds will increase today and remain strong and gusty into Friday. Gusts to, or over 50 mph, will be possible in the typical windy areas. Relative humidity values are forecast to remain too high for critical fire criteria to be reached, and fuels are currently rated as not critical. Therefore, the strong winds will not trigger fire weather watches or warnings. The trade inversion is forecast to be 5500 to 6,500 feet today.

 

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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 Wednesday morning: As a strong surface high persists far north of the Hawaiian Islands and interacts with Hurricane Lowell passing to the south, trade winds will strengthen across the coastal waters to become fresh to locally near gale force. The Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains in effect for the typically windy waters this morning and will expand to include all waters through Thursday night. The offshore waters will likely see tropical storm conditions over the far south, while the core of hurricane force winds remains just outside the area today through Thursday.

There is still some uncertainty with the forecast track of Lowell, especially late this weekend into early next week as the cyclone begins to gain latitude, which will have significant impacts on the wind, wave, and surf forecast for the region. Adding to the extended forecast uncertainty will be the approach of Hurricane Karina from the east.

A moderate, long-period south swell will peak later today below advisory levels and hold into Thursday. This swell will then gradually decline through the rest of the week. A small, medium- period south southeast swell from Lowell will fill in through the day, before becoming more southerly Thursday through Friday. These combined swells will keep south shore surf elevated near to just below advisory levels. Beyond that point, the surf forecast is highly dependent on the eventual track and intensity of Lowell, which has the potential to be a significant source of south to southwesterly swell through this weekend into next week.

Trade wind swell energy will keep rough, choppy surf along all east-facing shores through at least the weekend. A small, medium- period east swell from Hurricane Karina began filling in overnight and is expected to gradually build through the week, possibly pushing east shore surf to advisory, or even warning thresholds by this weekend into next week.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – 108 degrees near La Puerta, CA


>>>
Lowest Temperature Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – 26 degrees near Bynum, MT

 

What's the weather like? | Baamboozle - Baamboozle | The Most Fun Classroom Games!


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

Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclone

 

Gulf of America: 

Tropical Cyclone 05 (Edouard)…is located about 125 miles northwest of Beaumont, Texas

EDOUARD PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING ACROSS EAST TEXAS

According to the NHC advisory number 9

The depression is moving toward the north-northwest near 5 mph and this motion is expected to continue over the next 12 to 18 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Gradual weakening of Edouard is expected over the next 12 to 18 hours. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1004 mb (29.65 inches).

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Northeast Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 11E (Karina)…is located about 1455 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii

KARINA REMAINS A POWERFUL HURRICANE

According to the NHC advisory number 25…

Karina is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph and a westward to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next few days. Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Karina is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible today, followed by slow weakening over the next several days. However, Karina is likely to remain a powerful hurricane the next couple of days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb (27.76 inches).

 

Tropical Cyclone 13E (Marie)…is located about 415 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

MARIE A LITTLE STRONGER…EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE LATER TODAY

According to the NHC advisory number 6…

Marie is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. A turn toward the west-northwest is expected by tonight, and that motion should continue through the weekend. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast through Friday, and Marie is likely to become a hurricane later today. A gradual weakening trend is expected over the weekend. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb (29.30 inches).

 

Central North Pacific

Tropical Cyclone 12E (Lowell)…is located about 455 miles south-southeast of Hilo, HI

LOWELL CONTINUES RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING …FORECAST TO BE A POWERFUL HURRICANE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS

According to the NHC advisory number 25…

Lowell is moving toward the west near 10 mph. This general motion with a gradual decrease in forward speed is expected during the next few days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 155 mph with higher gusts. Lowell is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Further strengthening is possible, and Lowell could become a category 5 hurricane later today or tonight. It is expected to remain a powerful hurricane for the next several days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 932 mb (27.53 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

SURF: Swells generated by Lowell are likely to affect portions of the Hawaiian Islands beginning today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 17W (Saudel) is located approximately 208 NM east of Hong Kong

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Tropical Cyclone 22W (Krovanh) is located approximately 263 NM southeast 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

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



Interesting: 
Short, Intense Storms Gain Intensity Across Hawaii

While long-term data shows that Hawaii is getting drier overall, short, intense downpours that cause sudden, dangerous flash floods are getting stronger in the islands, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Hawaii at M?noa.

Published in the International Journal of Climatology, the research from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) is the first comprehensive study to analyze extreme hourly rainfall patterns across the state over 50 years (1966–2020). The team examined decades of hourly data from 117 rain gauges across Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii Island, uncovering climate trends that traditional 24-hour daily averages often miss.

Bursts of Intense Rain

In steep, mountain-filled tropical watersheds like Hawaii’s, bursts of intense rain lasting one to six hours can overwhelm stream channels and storm drains before emergency alerts are even issued.

Read More: University of Hawaii