Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs
Posted by GlennSeptember 26-27 2007
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Wednesday:
Lihue, Kauai – 86F
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 84
Kahului, Maui – 86
Hilo, Hawaii – 80
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 86
Temperatures early Thursday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:
Honolulu, Oahu – 77F
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:
0.51 HANALEI RIVER, KAUAI
1.54 SOUTH FORK KAUKONAHUA, OAHU
0.02 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
1.80 PUU KUKUI, MAUI
1.06 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND
Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing high pressure systems located far to the north of Hawaii. These high pressure cells will keep moderate trade winds blowing across our Hawaiian islands…locally stronger and gusty in those locally windiest areas through Friday. There will be a slight easing of our local trade wind speeds Friday into the 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.
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 and Radar 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.
High cirrus clouds over parts of Hawaii today
photo credit: flickr.com
The gusty trade winds will keep the ocean surface filled with white caps, and the coconut palm fronds swaying to and fro here in the Hawaiian Islands now. Weather maps show a couple of 1029 millibar high pressure systems located far to the NE of the islands Wednesday evening. The latest computer models indicate that the trade winds will continue through the rest of this week, and then right on into next week. There are small craft advisories posted for winds in all the major channels, Maalaea Bay on Maui…and also the waters NW of Kauai.
An upper level low pressure system to the north, in combination with whatever incoming moisture carried in on the trade winds…will keep the windward sides showery at times. This upper level low will help to bring high level cirrus clouds overhead as well…especially over Maui and the Big Island. The cold air associated with this upper air weather feature will keep our overlying atmosphere just a little unstable, although less so than the last several days. This in turn keeps the slight chance of a few briefly heavy shower in the forecast. The leeward sides may even see a few stray showers carried over the lower mountains on the smaller islands on the gusty trade winds.
It’s Wednesday evening as I start writing this last paragraph of todays weather narrative. That same area of tropical moisture, in the area south and southwest of Hawaii, as viewed in this satellite image…is full of towering cumulus and even thunderstorms. The tops of those cumulonimbus clouds are being carried up into the state on the high level winds coming up from the SW. This high cloudiness will give great sunrise and sunset colors, although will dim and filter our Hawaiian sunshine locally as well…especially over Maui and the Big Island. Those thunderstorms to our south are getting quite close now, although won’t likely make it all the way to our islands. Here’s a looping satellie image to keep track of where the heaviest showers are falling. Daytime heating of the volcanic islands may cause some afternoon showers along the leeward slopes, although working against that would be the cooling (shading) effect of the high cirrus clouds streaming overhead. Meanwhile, the windward sides will end up with the most generous rainfall amounts as usual. ~~~ In sum: gusty trade winds, windward showers at times, along with high clouds beautifying our skies. I’ll be back early Thursday morning with your next weather narrative, I hope you have a great Wednesday wherever you are spending it…and don’t forget to check out the September full moon tonight! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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