May 4-5 2008

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

Lihue, Kauai – 81
Honolulu, Oahu – 85
Kaneohe, Oahu – 80
Kahului, Maui – 85
Hilo, Hawaii – 80
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 82

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 6 p.m. Sunday evening:

Barking Sands, Kauai  – 80F
Hilo, Hawaii – 69   

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: 

1.46  MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.89 MANAO VALLEY, OAHU
0.04 MOLOKAI
0.15 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
1.82 PUU KUKUI, MAUI
1.29 GLENWOOD, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1027 milliar high pressure center far to the NE of the state. This high pressure system will keep light to moderately strong trade winds blowing across our islands through Tuesday…although still those gusty conditions in those windiest spots on Maui and the 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. 

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.

Aloha Paragraphs

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Sunset from the island of Oahu

The trade winds will be somewhat lighter now through the next few days. We’ll see light to moderately strong trade winds blowing in general. The computer forecast models show that the trade winds will continue in the light to moderately strong range through Tuesday, then begin to increase a notch or two Wednesday through the rest of the week. There are no small craft wind advisories active in Hawaii’s coastal or channel waters, but will likely be needed during the second half of the new week.

There will be an increase in windward and mountain showers now through the next several days. The overlying atmosphere has become less stable, and more shower prone. An approaching upper level low will cause our inversion to rise, allowing clouds to become thicker. The leeward beaches will be generally quite dry however, although a few showers may fall locally. As we get into the middle of the new week, there will be a decrease in shower activity through the end of the week.

It’s Sunday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative.  As noted above, the trade winds will be a little softer now, while the windward sides, and around the mountains, will become a bit wetter. Neither of these two changes will be extreme. As this looping satellite image shows, there is an area of high clouds to the west of the state, which will be moving overhead soon, helping to dim and filter our sunshine during the days, but also giving colorful sunset and sunrise colors too.

~~~ Sunday was a good day, although there were somewhat more showers around than the last 3-4 days. Here in Kula, Maui, there was a quick little shower during the afternoon hours, although it was pretty heavy for a short time. Looking over towards the windward sides, I can see showers falling just before sunset. Speaking of the sunset, there may very well be a nice one Sunday evening, what with the high cirrus clouds streaming by aloft.

~~~ I picked up a couple of nice orchids this morning in Haiku, where there was a sale going on. When I left Haiku, over on the windward side of east Maui, I headed to Hookipa Beach Park, and found very small waves breaking, and hardly anyone out riding at Pavil’s…one of the local surf spots there. I then drove down to Baldwin Beach, on the Kahului side of Paia town, and took a nice long walk on that sandy beach. It was a little windy, with white caps on the ocean surface just offshore, but I decided to take a quick swim anyway, and am glad I did. I then drove back upcountry to Kula, and just hung out for the rest of the day.

~~~ I’ll be back very early Monday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise, I hope you have a great Sunday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Note: There is a temporary problem with the live streaming tv weather feed, with its link on the left hand margin of this page. I’ve been assured that it will be working properly again for Monday’s show…sorry for the inconvenience! Literally, almost every rain gauge in the state of Hawaii remained dry, with just a few light sprinkles, or an isolated shower, finding a landing spot in a few windward locations. Aloha, Glenn

Note2: Check out this remarkably large wave video!