Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs

A slightly lighter version of the trade winds will blow across the Hawaiian Islands now, then increase some as we move into Friday and the weekend.  Weather maps show a somewhat reduced 1026 millibar high pressure system located far to the NE of the islands Wednesday evening. This high pressure cell has its associated ridge extending southwest to a point north of our islands. The location of this ridge will keep light to moderately strong trade winds blowing, although locally gusty during the afternoons. The current computer forecast models suggest that we will see these trade winds strengthening some by the weekend into next week, as this high pressure system moves closer to our area and strengthens. They may be strong enough then to see small craft advisories going up in the major channels in the southern part of the Aloha state.

The upper level trough of low pressure, which has kept our local atmosphere somewhat more unstable than usual, is still around at mid-week. This low doesn’t have very much of an influence on our local weather…although may be able to keep a few briefly heavy showers around here and there. Other than those locally heavier showers we can look for just the usual few passing showers along the windward sides, and a couple of afternoon or evening showers over the interior sections locally, especially the leeward slopes of east Maui, and the Kona slopes of the Big Island. The majority of the leeward beaches will remain quite sunny, with just the occasional cloudy periods. High level winds are bringing cirrus clouds up from the SW at times too, so there may be some intrusion of this high cloudiness during the next couple of days…most notably over east Maui and the Big Island. Just checking the latest GFS computer forecast model run, shows an area of tropical moisture coming into the state from the SE direction on Friday. This could, if the models are correct, bring an increase in showers into the southern part of the state…some of which could be locally heavy then.

It’s Wednesday evening here in the islands, as I update this last paragraph of today’s narrative. Other than the high clouds that are streaming by over the southern part of the 50th state now, and the presence of the upper level low pressure system, located nearby, our weather here in the islands will be just fine. Those high cirrus clouds will filter and dim the sunshine to some degree, although it appears to be quite thin and shouldn’t give our local sunworshippers too much trouble. Back to the upper level trough, it will keep some measure of instability in place, although whatever briefly heavy showers that fall will be very localized at best. The windward sides may see a couple of quick heavy passing showers here and there too. The upcountry sections of Maui, around Kula, Keokea, and down to Ulupalakua, and then over on the Kona slopes of the Big Island…might also see an afternoon or evening shower falling too. ~~~  As noted in the paragraph above, we may see an increase in showers Friday into Saturday, as an area of tropical moisture moves up over the state from the SE…some of which may be locally heavy. ~~~ The big news in the marine environment now will be the arrival of a high surf advisory level south swell on Thursday. Be careful if you find yourself along one of those leeward beaches, and the waves look too large…then stay out of the water by all means! ~~~ I’ll be back early Thursday morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Wednesday night until then. Aloha for now…Glenn.