Weather Details and Aloha Paragraphs

July 11-12 2006

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Tuesday:

Lihue, Kauai – 84F
Honolulu, Oahu – 86
Kaneohe, Oahu – 83
Kahului, Maui – 84
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 85

Temperatures early Wednesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:

Kaneohe, Oahu – 77
Hilo airport – 70

Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours (as of Wednesday morning) on each of the major islands:

1.24 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.08 SOUTH FORK KAUKONAHUA, OAHU
0.09 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.77 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.69 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1031 millibar high pressure system located far to the NNW of our islands. The winds today through Thursday will be stronger than normal, with small craft advisories active across all Hawaiian waters, and a high surf advisory for the east facing shores. Here’s a Weather Map Symbol page for clarification about what all those funny weather symbols mean.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon cloud conditions.

Satellite Images – To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with the Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around the state during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean…out from the islands. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Tropical Cyclone Activity – The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30…while the central Pacific (where Hawaii is) runs from June 1 through November 30. The latest storm information for the eastern Pacific can be found by clicking here. A storm tracking map for both the central and eastern areas can be found by clicking here . For the central Pacific, the latest storm information can be found by clicking here.

Aloha Paragraphs

The north shore of Kauai…
photo credit: flikr.com

 

The locally strong and gusty trade winds will continue to blow across the Aloha state for the time being. The wind advisory, that was active over some parts of the islands, has been dropped…although small craft wind advisory flags continue over all Hawaiian coastal and channel waters. The latest computer forecast models suggest that the winds will gradually be getting lighter through the rest of this work week…ending up in the normal light to moderately strong levels by the weekend. These brisk trade winds will be the dominate weather feature in Hawaii, causing choppy ocean conditions. These winds have been strong enough to generate high surf conditions along our east facing beaches, which will continue for the next several days.

There have been a few showers around, falling most generously along the windward sides of the islands as usual. The mountains on Kauai, and the windward side of the Big Island have had the most rainfall. Those passing showers, carried into the state by the trade winds, will continue. The leeward sides have been mostly dry, although a few light rain drops have been carried all the way over into some lee spots. The Kona coast of the Big Island, as often happens during the summer months, has had a few light late afternoon or evening showers falling too. There is little change indicated in this trade wind pattern, with generally fine weather continuing through the next week.

Far to the east, over towards Mexico, a new tropical cyclone has formed, called Bud. This is the third so far this hurricane season. Here’s a graphical track map showing what is now hurricane Bud, as it heads more or less westward. You will see the Hawaiian Islands in the picture, and to the casual observer, it might look like it was coming towards Hawaii. This may be true for the time being, although it will be weakening and dissipating as it moves over cooler ocean water, and comes under the influence of shearing winds aloft with time. I’d say that we have nothing to worry about when it comes to Bud, although it certainly warrants watching closely. Late in the day Tuesday, tropical cyclone 04E began a distance behind hurricane Bud.

It’s early Tuesday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I start this sunset commentary. It was another very sunny day, especially along the leeward beaches! I’ve been having some trouble keeping water in my radiator lately, so I took my car in to the mechanic in Pukalani after work. I decided rather than asking anyone for a ride home, that I would hitch hike. I walked to the spot, and the third or fourth car pulled over, a late model BMW. This fellow and I had a nice chat, and it turned out he lives about two driveways down from my place…so that turned out well. I’ll borrow my neighbors car tomorrow, and then pick up mine after work. I must admit that it’s a little humbling to be standing out on the side of the road, with your thumb out, and have people pass you by. At any rate it worked out great, as I’m sure it will again tomorrow. I hope you have a great Tuesday night, and that you will meet me here again on Wednesday, when I’ll have your next updated weather narrative from paradise waiting. Aloha for now…Glenn.

 

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