April 4-5, 2010


Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai – 78
Honolulu, Oahu – 80
Kaneohe, Oahu – 73
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 77
Kahului, Maui – 71
Hilo, Hawaii – 75
Kailua-kona – 81

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level around the state – and on the highest mountains…at 4pm Sunday afternoon:

Barking Sands, Kauai – 81F
Hilo, Hawaii – 68

Haleakala Crater –    54 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 43 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

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 afternoon:

1.27 Kokee, Kauai  
2.42 South Fork Kaukonahua, Oahu
0.22 Molokai 
0.04 Lanai
0.01 Kahoolawe
4.86 Puu Kukui, Maui 
2.24 Kawainui Stream , Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a strong 1033 millibar high pressure system located far to the north of the islands. This pressure configuration will keep strong and gusty trade winds blowing into Monday…relaxing some Tuesday.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this 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. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

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 weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific – Here’s the latest weather 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. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here.

 Aloha Paragraphs

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3425857032_c84dfbe9e2.jpg
  Happy Easter!

 

The trade winds will remain breezy into Monday…then easing up some on Tuesday.  Looking at this weather map, we find that a 1033 millibar high pressure system in the area north of the state Sunday night. As this high pressure cell moves east, winds will remain strong and gusty. We have small craft wind advisories stretching across the entire state…along with high surf advisories along our windward east facing beaches.

These breezy trades will gradually taper off as we enter the new week…then increase again mid-week into the weekend. There really isn’t an end in sight to this prolonged trade wind weather pattern, as they may blow right through the first half of this month, maybe even longer. The spring months are commonly filled with trade wind weather. There will of course be the usual ups and downs associated with the air flow, and often during the month of April…it’s more up than down.

The overlying atmosphere is moist now, so that showers will keep the windward sides off and on wet into the new week. The leeward sides may pick up a few showers too, especially on the small islands from Molokai up through Oahu to Kauai. An upper level low pressure system moves overhead Tuesday night through Thursday. This in turn may provide heavier showers over the windward coasts and slopes…with more showers along the leeward sides possible then too.

It’s Easter Sunday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative. The winds will remain rather strong and gusty as we end this week. This too will eliminate the chance of wind advisories going up over the islands as well. So that we can take a look at just how strong they are…here’s the list that I’ve been showing below:

These were the strongest gusts around the state at around 5pm Sunday on each of the islands:

35 mph on Kauai
42 mph on Oahu
35 mph on Molokai
37 mph on Lanai
43 mph on Kahoolawe
44 mph on Maui
38 mph on the Big Island

Once again, these are fairly large numbers, all up there in the 30’s and 40’s as we head into the night. At the same time, with lots of showers coming in now, here’s a looping radar image so we can keep track of where this moisture is taking aim. In summary, strong and gusty trade winds for the time being, with lots of showers falling along the windward sides. Winds becoming lighter Tuesday, before picking up again Wednesday…with chance of heavy showers then through Thursday. ~~~  It’s Easter Sunday, a special holiday in most of our lives. For me, this holiday takes me back to my childhood, when my parents took me to Sunday School, along with my brothers and sisters. Then, afterwards, my Dad would drive us over to my grandparents house, where we would pick up our candy filled Easter baskets…which was such a big treat! We then headed home, which was in Long Beach, California, and rifled through that basket, showing off our treats to each other, and maybe doing a little trading or bartering as well. Then, it was back to my grandparents house, Nana and Op were their names, for a big Easter dinner. Afterwards my brother and I would head out in the front yard and climb the big tree. It’s funny how these memories are still so vivid, great memories of growing up. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of you readers a most special Easter, whatever you have in mind to do! ~~~ Sunday was a good day, one which I talked to no one in person, but many folks on the telephone. There are those days that I just need to pull back and retreat, it just so happened to be on Easter this year. I did a lot of reading, and quite a bit of cooking too. I’m ready for the new work week to begin, and am looking forward to taking the drive back over to Kihei, Monday morning. I hope you had a good holiday, and are more or less ready for the new work week too…that is if you’re part of the work force of the world. I’ll be back early Monday with your next new weather narrative, see you then! Aloha for now…Glenn.