Weather Details and Aloha Paragraphs

July 12-13 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 85F
Honolulu, Oahu – 86
Kaneohe, Oahu – 83
Kahului, Maui – 85
Hilo, Hawaii – 81
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 86

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

Kaneohe, Oahu – 77
Hilo airport – 69

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

0.11 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.11 MANOA LYON ARBORETUM, OAHU
0.02 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.32 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.78 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1032 millibar high pressure system located far to the NNW of our islands. The winds Thursday will still be locally strong and gusty, then starting to mellow out some Friday. The small craft advisories remain active across all Hawaiian waters, and a high surf advisory for the east facing shores for the time being. 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.

Look closely, there's the Hana Highway down there…
photo credit: flikr.com

The stronger than normal trade winds are still buffeting some parts of the state of Hawaii. Not everywhere is exposed to these stiff breezes, although where those winds are blowing, the coconut palm trees are swaying to and fro…and the ocean is all white capped and choppy. High pressure located far to the NNW of the islands is the culprit for these breezy trade winds. Weather charts show a gradual softening of the winds starting Friday, ending up in the more normal moderately strong realms this weekend. The computer models suggest that these lighter trade winds will remain active into next week.

I should add that far to the east towards Mexico, there are two active tropical cyclones spinning. This is the third and fourth so far this hurricane season in the eastern Pacific. Here’s a graphical track map showing hurricane Bud and tropical storm Carlotta, as they head more or less westward. You will see the Hawaiian Islands in the picture, although the hurricane models show them dissipating well before getting near the Aloha state. I’d say that we have nothing to worry about when it comes to these tropical systems, although they certainly warrant watching closely…which I’ll be doing like a hawk! We may get some residual showers from Bud at some point, if the then retired system continues on its present track.

It’s early Wednesday morning here in Kula, Maui. It’s a little warmer this morning than it was on Tuesday at this same time, reading 54F degrees, rather than 52F degrees, as was the case at 515am yesterday. The skies are totally clear over the Haleakala Crater, with those same gray clouds, almost a permanent fixture, along the windward sides. As I was mentioning in my sunset commentary last evening, my Honda Prelude is at my mechanics now. My neighbors have been kind enough to loan me one of their cars for the day…and are going to drop me off to get my car when I get home from work this evening. I had the opportunity to hitchhike from Pukalani up to Kula last evening, which worked out perfectly. I think it’s good to get out on the side of the road (of life) and hitch a ride once in a while, just to reinforce the fact that the Universe takes care of us when we’re in a time of need! It’s going to be yet another day of very sunny weather, and more than likely I’ll be able to get to the beach for my regular beach walk and swim today. It’s very important to protect our skin while outside during these summer days by the way. I’ll be back later with more weather updates. Aloha for now…Glenn.

I want to highlight Maui Car Rentals, as the advertiser of the day. Maui Car Rentals offers clean, reliable and low priced rental cars. They will pick you up curbside at the Maui Kahului airport. Please call them to rent a car today.