Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs
Posted by GlennAugust 15-16 2007
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Wednesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 83F
Honolulu, Oahu – 85
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 87
Hilo, Hawaii – 80
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 87
Temperatures early Thursday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Kailua-kona – 79F
Hilo, Hawaii – 71
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Thursday morning:
2.91 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
3.96 MANOA LYON ARBORETUM, OAHU
0.02 MOLOKAI
0.01 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.76 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
1.08 PUU WAAWAA, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1028 millibar high pressure system located far north of Hawaii Thursday. This high pressure cell has elongated ridges of high pressure extending out to the west and east. This pressure configuration will keep our local trade winds blowing in the moderately strong category over Hawaii’s coastal waters…although locally stronger and gusty in those usual windiest locations through Friday. 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.
Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific – Here’s the latest information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean.
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.
Weakening tropical system Flossie continues to move away, now an even weaker tropical depression. Flossie finally went through this transition that everyone thought, including almost all the computer forecast models, would happen…as shearing winds aloft took their toll on this fading tropical storm. There are still a few thunderstorms left around once robust category 4 Flossie…although it appears that a low level swirl of clouds will soon be all that’s left. As Flossie moves by to the south of the state into Thursday…we will continue to see locally gusty trade winds, although without the punch that was once forecast. Winds will return to a more normal trade wind regime as Flossie moves away into the weekend.
Most of the residual showers in the wake of Flossie have been on the light side, and generally restricted to the windward sides of the islands. This satellite image shows Flossie to the SW of the Oahu, a rather feeble example of what a powerful hurricane that it once was. Many folks here in the islands are feeling relief, although many others would have appreciated the precipitation that was anticipated. We now look for more or less normal trade wind weather conditions, as we move through the weekend…right on into next week.
It’s early Wednesday evening here in the islands, as I write this last paragraph of today’s narrative from Kula, Maui. Tropical cyclone Flossie, now downgraded to a tropical depression, continues on a track, taking this rapidly weakening tropical system SW of Kauai Thursday. Here’s a tracking map, showing the storm as it passes by to the south Kauai. As tropical depression Flossie moves by, we will still see some slightly stronger than normal trade winds, although of all the warnings and advisories, only a small craft wind advisory is active now…which is quite common even without a tropical system moving by to our south! Here’s a looping satellite image of Flossie, showing the Hawaiian Islands to the north and NE. ~~~ I’ll be back early Thursday morning with your next weather narrative from paradise. I hope you enjoy your night, either here in the islands, or elsewhere in the world! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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