April 13-14, 2010


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

Lihue, Kauai – 77
Honolulu, Oahu – 80
Kaneohe, Oahu – 77
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 74
Kahului, Maui – 75
Hilo, Hawaii – 76
Kailua-kona – 79

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level around the state – and on the highest mountains…at 5pm Tuesday evening:

Barking Sands, Kauai – 78F
Molokai Airport – 70

Haleakala Crater –    45 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 39 (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 Tuesday afternoon:

0.23 Mohihi Crossing, Kauai  
1.95 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
1.39 Molokai 
0.35 Lanai
0.19 Kahoolawe
5.76 West Wailuaiki, Maui 
1.06 Kawainui Stream, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing two strong high pressure systems located far to the northwest and north-northeast of the islands. At the same time, we have a 1018 millibar low to our north-northwest. This low, in addition to a trough of low pressure in the vicinity of the islands…will keep our winds north to northeast through Thursday.

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/3274/2418895685_ff9315462e.jpg
  Lovely Hula Dancer

 

The unusually cool weather conditions persist Tuesday evening, brought our way by north to northeast winds. Air temperatures were all hovering in the 70F’s during the day, with just one place, Honolulu on Oahu…able to reach 80 degrees. All of the other airport weather stations had high temperatures in the 70’s, from Kauai to Maui County, all the way down to the Big Island. The islands of Maui County also had the strongest wind gusts, and most prolific precipitation accumulations. In that regard, there was a 43 mph gust on Lanai, and a 5.26” 24 hour rainfall total along the windward side of east Maui Tuesday. We can take a look at this weather map to see the reason our winds are coming in from the unusual north to northeast directions.

We find two strong high pressure systems, one to the far northwest…and the other far to the north-northeast. Meanwhile, that same 1018 millibar low pressure system is located to the north-northeast…moving eastward. This low is blocking our islands from the fullest extent of the winds, from these high pressure systems to its north. The low is also veering our winds to the northeast…thus the cooler than normal temperatures. As this low moves further away, our winds will take on an even more pronounced northerly aspect, keeping the out of season chilly weather over us. The latest computer models show the more common trade winds returning this weekend, continuing into early next week, which are expected to be rather blustery…although likely warmer.

There has been a distinct difference in the rainfall amounts over the island chain during the last 24 hours. The bookend islands of Kauai and the Big Island have been just outside the prime rainfall areas. This has kept Oahu down through the islands of Maui County’s rain gauges busy collecting lots of rain water. This IR satellite image shows the geographical location of the clouds going into Tuesday night. There was still an area of clouds banked up against the Koolau Mountains on Oahu, although the larger part of the cloud area was hugging the islands from Molokai down to the Big Island. This looping radar image wasn’t working when I last looked at it, although I’m hoping that this error will be dealt with soon…so I’ll leave it up for the time being.

The computer models want to keep this long lasting cloud band over the southern part of the state into Wednesday, which is a good thing. This is true at least in terms of pushing back the persistent drought conditions that we’ve had going on since this past dry winter season. It appears that the cloud band may sink down over the Big Island at mid-week, letting the smaller islands dry out some. We are expected to find another more modest period of showers Thursday, before a fast moving cold front pushes through the state on Friday. The models go on to suggest drier weather everywhere this weekend into early next week, although with the blustery trade winds blowing…there ought to be some passing shower activity along the windward sides at least.





It’s Tuesday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative. The unusually cool and cloudy weather pattern continued Tuesday, bringing chilly winds, localized clouds, and quite a few showers too. The big city of Honolulu had the warmest temperature of the day, although barely able to reach 80F degrees. In contrast, most of the other airport weather stations were able to push up only into the middle 70’s. We’re not quite through with this tropical cool snap, as we have another several days to keep that sweater or sweatshirt handy. I do see the showers pulling back some, at least from Kauai down through Oahu, and maybe Maui too on Wednesday. The Big Island hasn’t had much rain yet, although may finally get into a better position, to find them falling more generously soon. ~~~ Here in Kula, Maui, the high temperature up here was around 66 degrees, and now at 530pm, was only 62.1 degrees. We’ve had off and on passing light showers today, and the eaves are still dripping from the last one just a few minutes ago. Since I was working from home today, I greatly enjoyed experiencing all the changes…rather than being in my office down in Kihei for a change. As the winds are now coming out of the northeast, and will become more northerly over the next few days, my wind chimes will be getting a good workout. Kula gets breezy with winds coming out of these directions, and so does the Kihei/Wailea areas. I had to wear my rain jacket this morning, when I took my walk, although it looks like I might be able get out without using it, for this upcoming evening walk. I’ll be back early Wednesday morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Tuesday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.