Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs
Posted by GlennMarch 15-16 2007
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday:
Lihue, Kauai – 81F
Honolulu, Oahu – 77
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 82
Hilo, Hawaii – 84
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83
Temperatures early Friday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kailua-kona – 73F
Honolulu, Oahu – 66
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Friday morning:
2.31 WAINIHA, KAUAI
1.61 MAUNAWILI, OAHU
0.98 MOLOKAI
0.78 LANAI
0.71 KAHOOLAWE
0.73 MAHINAHINA, MAUI
0.52 KAPAPALA RANCH, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a weak trough of low pressure located near the Big Island Friday. Meanwhile, high pressure centers are noted far to the NW and NE of the islands, with their associated ridges getting ready to bring us trade winds this weekend. Here’s a Weather Map Symbol page for clarification about what all those weather symbols mean on the map.
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.
The showery cold front has moved over Kauai and Oahu…and is heading towards the islands of Maui County Thursday evening. This weather feature has our local winds blowing in from the south through SW Kona direction out ahead of the front. The threat of heavy rain is still in the forecast where winds are coming up from the south, and until the departing cold front, or what is now simply a shearline, moves away to the NE Friday. We will see partly cloudy conditions in general, with cloudy skies ahead of, and along with the cold front…with the outside chance of a thunderstorm from the island of Maui and perhaps the northern half of the Big Island.
The air flow coming in behind the cold front has become drier and a little cooler as north to NE winds start up Thursday over Kauai and Oahu. Friday will be a transition day between the Kona winds today, and the returning trade winds by this weekend. Whatever showers that may be around Thursday will be gone for the most part Friday, although there’s always the chance we could see a couple of showers riding in on the returning NE breezes. The overall outlook remains favorably inclined as we move into the upcoming weekend.
As we move into the weekend those NE breezes will have become our classic trade winds. These trade winds will become quite gusty into next week. The trade winds will usher in lots of sunshine for the leeward sides, and some passing showers for the windward sides. The long range weather outlook for the islands remains very encouraging! This weekend will begin a good long stretch of good weather, with tons of sunshine available for those interested in sun tanning and outdoor activities. We’ll see just a few showers spilling from the clouds being carried along the windward coasts and slopes by the strengthening trade winds.
It’s early Thursday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin writing this cloudy sunset commentary. The air is charged with moisture this evening here on Maui, and as local radar is showing, we have rain coming our way. The cold front described above, is finally moving down through the state. It brought some heavy showers to Oahu during the day, and is about ready to start raining on Molokai, Lanai, and Maui. As I look out the windows of my weather tower here in Kula, all I can see are moisture laden cumulus clouds in the fading light. When I swing around in my chair I can see shafts of rain already falling in the central valley, which means that Kihei and Lahaina are already on the receiving end of incoming showers. Again, the radar makes those showers look like pretty heavy ones, so that there will likely be some fairly intense downpours as we move into the night hours. This old cold front will be well to the east and NE of Maui by morning, but probably the Big Island will have some of these showers arriving later Thursday night into Friday. How exciting, I just love these weather changes! I’ll be back before the crack of dawn Friday, to lay out what’s up then, although I expect improving weather pretty much statewide, although with the Big Island the last to clear later in the day Friday…moving into a great looking weekend. I hope you have a restful Thursday night wherever you happen to be reading from. Aloha for now…Glenn.
Note: Due to popular demand (over the years) there’s finally a small picture of myself in the upper right hand corner of this page. Now you can put a face [or at least the side of a face] to these weather narratives. 
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