Hawaiian Islands weather details & Aloha paragraphs
Posted by GlennDecember 29-30 2007
Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79
Honolulu, Oahu – 80
Kaneohe, Oahu – 77
Kahului, Maui – 80
Hilo, Hawaii – 75
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 83
Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 6 a.m. Sunday morning:
Honolulu, Oahu – 73F
Kahului, Maui – 61
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Sunday morning:
3.33 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
3.36 POAMOHO 2, OAHU
0.07 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
1.75 KAUPO GAP, MAUI
1.02 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND
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.
Weather Chart – A moderately strong 1032 millibar high pressure system is located to the NE of Hawaii Sunday. A 1012 millibar low pressure system, to the north of the islands, with its associated weak cold front, have turned our winds to the ESE and even SE now. This direction causes wind blockage from the Big Island, with lighter winds now in most areas. Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map. 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.
Breezy trade winds hold sway in Hawaii
photo credit: flickr.com
The incoming trade wind clouds will keep the windward sides showery at times, while the leeward sides will be partly cloudy for the most part. Those windward sides of the islands will remain rather wet…as they have been all week. The leeward sides won’t see most of these showers, although will find a few showers being carried over the lower mountains on the smaller islands. The Kona coast on the Big Island, and the Wailea/Kihei, and Lahaina areas on Maui, have taller mountains behind them, blocking the windward showers from spreading over into those lee sections.
The computer forecast models continue to show a weak shearline cloud band approaching the state later Tuesday. There’s a chance for this frontal boundary to push into the state, bringing a modest increase in showers at some point later Tuesday or Wednesday, along the windward sides. This won’t bring much rain, so that the main thing that folks will notice will be the cooler north to NE breezes coming into the state behind the cloud band. This in turn will bring a tropical cool snap to the islands, followed by the return of the drier air into the Aloha state.
It’s Saturday evening here in the islands, as I begin writing these last paragraphs of today’s narrative. There is finally evidence that the strong and gusty trade winds have begun to let up a little now. As usual, there will be those areas that are sheltered from these gusty winds, even on the Big Island and Maui…where the strongest winds typically exist during a trade wind weather pattern such as this.
~~~ A large area of high level clouds continues to spread up over the island chain from the southwest, and will likely remain overhead into Sunday. Although there are indications that it may finally begin getting thinner, allowing some partial sunny periods to arrive…especially during the morning hours. This looping satellite image shows these high level clouds streaming into our area.
~~~ Last evening I went to the Maui Arts and Cultural Center after work to see the new film called Atonement. The main story of this film revolves around a young girl, who irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit. This film has received rave reviews in most quarters, and turned out to be very good in my opinion. The theatre was packed to the gills, and there was lots of applauding from the audience at the end. It was loaded with unusual detail, which the camera caught in such a sensitve way…which I love in a film. It was an emotional piece, centered around the two main characters, played by the beautiful Keira Knightley, and of course handsome James McAvoy…who experienced a deep love for one another. I found Atonement to be a big B+ film. Here’s a link to the trailer, if you feel so inclined to check it out.
~~~ I’ll be back Sunday morning with more weather news and updates. I hope you have a great Saturday night wherever you happen to be spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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