Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs

The trade winds are the primary weather element influencing our Hawaiian Islands now. Trade wind producing high pressure centers to the north and NE are the source of this balmy air flow. The overlying atmosphere is rather stable and dry, so that this early spring weather pattern will remain favorably inclined for the time being. These trade winds will be blowing in the moderate to fresh range, keeping the small craft advisory over the coastal waters active in those windiest locations across the Aloha state.

The latest computer forecast models show little change in this pleasant weather reality, right out through the next week. The local wind speeds will vary from day to day in strength, although tend to be rather on the strong and gusty side of the wind spectrum. The nights and early morning hours will find the softest breezes blowing, picking up during the later morning through late afternoon hours. This is nothing to worry about, as they won’t be getting too strong, and will not be causing any problems.

Meanwhile, our Hawaiian sunshine will be beaming down in force now. There will be some clouds around, which is typical for a trade wind weather pattern. These stratocumulus and cumulus clouds will be partly cloudy in general, not getting too much in the way of the warm sunshine for the most part. The leeward sides in particular, where the visitor resorts are located, will be quite sunny during the days…and dry. The windward sides in contrast, where the trade winds impact the coasts and slopes directly, will see more clouds with showers…often just light showers, or misty drizzle.

Since most people like to get to the beach often, or at least sometimes, I want to point out the best times to go. Almost always, the beaches are less windy during the morning hours. In my humble opinion, less wind equals a better time, unless you are a windsurf or kiteboarding enthusiast. As we get into the afternoon hours, the winds often pick up, and can sometimes make it a little too breezy. In the extreme, the sand can start to blow, and you don’t want a gritty potato salad! So, try and make it earlier than later, and you will probably like it better…this is the case when the trade winds are blowing briskly.

It’s early Thursday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I begin today’s sunset commentary. It was another spring day, that was trying to act a bit like summer! The Kihei/Wailea and Lahaina coastal areas were mostly sunny all day, with high temperatures well up into the very warm 80F’s. I kept looking over towards the windward sides from Kihei, and saw a cloud band banked-up against the slopes and coasts. There were light showers falling there off and on much of the day. As I was driving home from work, up the Haleakala Highway between Kahului and Pukalani, there was an amazing rainbow arched across the road. Showers were stretching across the highway too, with my wind shield wipers on the intermittent control setting. At the moment, the last sun rays of the day are gracing the inside of my weather tower, as my wind chimes sing the softest possible song. The golden glow of the days sunset is just now lighting up all the trees in this area, giving a very mellow feel to the close of the day. It actually looks as if those windward showers are trying to inch their way over into Kula, blown by the rather breezy trade winds that have prevailed today. Looking a little further ahead, this upcoming weekend looks like a dry one, even on the windward sides…not to mention the summer-like leeward sections! I hope you have a great Thursday night! I will be up well before the crack of dawn Friday morning, sitting in this same chair, typing out a brand new narrative then, I hope you can join me again on Friday. Aloha for now…Glenn.