Air Temperatures – The following high temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Tuesday…along with the low temperatures Tuesday:
78 – 66 Lihue, Kauai
83 – 69 Honolulu, Oahu
79 – 62 Molokai
80 – 57 Kahului AP, Maui
81 – 65 Kailua Kona
80 – 60 Hilo AP, Hawaii
Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands Tuesday evening:
0.21 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.14 Manoa Lyon Arboretum, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.02 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.01 South Point, Big Island
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Tuesday evening:
24 Port Allen, Kauai
29 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
23 Molokai
25 Lanai
30 Kahoolawe
24 Kapalua, Maui
29 Kealakomo, Big Island
Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of our tallest mountain Mauna Kea (nearly 13,800 feet high) on the Big Island of Hawaii. Here’s the webcam for the Haleakala Crater on Maui. These webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands, and at night whenever there’s a big moon shining down. Also, at night you will be able to see the stars — and the sunrise and sunset too — depending upon weather conditions.
Aloha Paragraphs
Upper level low spinning to the northeast…cold front north
High cirrus northwest through northeast
Clear to partly cloudy…some cloudy areas
Just a few showers – Looping image
~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~
Small Craft Advisory…Kauai northwest waters, windward waters, Maalaea Bay, Pailolo and Alenuihaha Channels, Big Island leeward and southeast waters
High Surf Advisory…Niihau, Kauai windward and leeward waters
Broad Brush Overview: The models maintain a relatively benign weather pattern for the islands over the next week, as high pressure tends to hold over the state. Moderate trade flow offers little in the way of showers, with below normal moisture and limited windward rainfall potential…with the best chance to squeeze out moisture possibly occurring over the weekend.
Details: A weakening cold front will continue to move by to our north. At the same time, we’ll find gentle to locally breezy trades continuing over the islands. Meanwhile, satellite imagery revealed stable low clouds approaching from the east. Although, the mostly dry trade wind weather will persist, with low clouds arriving at times…although with limited showers.
The front to the north will slowly dissipate Wednesday, while a high moves into the area north of the islands and strengthens. This will result in a modest strengthening of the trades during the second half of the week. Models suggest that some moisture from the dissipated front may reach the islands Thursday and Friday, although not much precipitation is expected.
Looking Further Ahead: The models go on to suggest that another front is expected to pass by far north of the islands during the weekend. The pressure gradient across the islands may stay tight enough for the locally breezy trade winds to continue. A modest increase in moisture for the state is also expected…with a slight increase in clouds and showers then.
Here’s a wind profile of the Pacific Ocean – Closer view of the islands / Here’s the vog forecast animation / Here’s the latest weather map
Marine environment details: Surf produced by an approaching NW swell is forecast to gradually increase along most north and west facing shores of the smaller islands. Once it arrives, this swell will likely maintain elevated surf through early Wednesday morning.
In addition to the large northwest swell, combined with waves generated by the trade winds, will produce rough seas over the extreme western end of the island chain. These elevated rough seas will likely persist through early Wednesday morning.
The northwest swell will gradually subside Wednesday through early Friday. A new west-northwest swell is forecast to arrive late Friday, and build through Friday night. Surf produced by this swell may approach the High Surf Advisory criteria along some north and west facing shorelines of the smaller islands, especially Kauai, starting Saturday morning. This large swell will likely persist through early Sunday before gradually subsiding Sunday night and Monday.
Elsewhere, the moderate trade winds will maintain choppy surf along east facing shores through the weekend. Also, expect very small surf along south facing shores through Friday. Some south facing shores exposed to wrap from the west-northwest swell arriving late Friday…may have a slight rise in surf during the weekend.
World-wide Tropical Cyclone activity
>>> Here’s the latest PDC Weather Wall Presentation, covering Tropical Depression 03S in the South Indian Ocean…and Tropical Depression 01W moving away from the Philippines
>>> Atlantic Ocean:
>>> Caribbean Sea:
>>> Gulf of Mexico:
Here’s a satellite image of the Caribbean Sea…and the Gulf of Mexico
Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
>>> Eastern Pacific:
Here’s a wide satellite image that covers the entire area between Mexico, out through the central Pacific…to the International Dateline.
Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
>>> Central Pacific:
Here’s a link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)
>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean:
Tropical Depression 01W
JTWC textual forecast warning
JTWC graphical track map
NOAA satellite image
>>> North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea:
Tropical Depression 03S
JTWC textual forecast warning
JTWC graphical track map
NOAA satellite image
Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Interesting: Lightning Deaths Hit a Record Low in 2017 – Deaths from from lightning strikes hit a record low in 2017 in the United States, according to a new report.
There were 16 lightning-related fatalities in 2017, breaking the previous low of 23 deaths in 2013, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The records go back to the 1940s, when farmers using tractors and other farm equipment made up a large proportion of the 200 to 400 people who died from lightning every year.
“While we don’t like to see any lightning deaths, the continuing downward trend in yearly fatalities is encouraging,” John Jensenius, a NSW lightning safety specialist, told reporters in an email.
With five deaths, Florida had the most lightning-related fatalities, followed by Alabama (three), and Colorado, Texas and North Carolina (two each). Ohio and Puerto Rico each had one lightning-related death.
The year 2017 also set a record for fewest U.S. male deaths (15) and female deaths (one) from lightning in a year. The victims’ ages ranged from 0 to 82, although six of the fatalities were in ages from 30 to 39, Jensenius said.
Half of the people were doing recreational activities outside — including walking on the beach, horseback riding, fishing, boating, camping and golfing — before lightning struck them. July was the deadliest month, with eight lightning-related fatalities, followed by August, which had three.
An analysis of lightning victims from 2006 to 2016 showed that 352 people were struck and killed by lighting in the United States, including 39 in 2016.
“The common belief that golfers are responsible for the greatest number of lightning deaths was shown to be a myth,” Jensenius wrote in a report, noting that in the same period, from 2006 to 2016, in which lightning killed nine golfers, it claimed the lives of 33 fishermen, 20 people on the beach, 18 campers, 16 boaters and 12 soccer players.
The NWS lightning safety education and awareness program, which started in 2001, has “undoubtedly contributed to the reduction in U.S. lightning fatalities,” Jensenius told reporters. What’s more, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) have saved the lives of people hit by lightning.
However, many lightning survivors report having lifelong problems, including memory issues. “Oftentimes, they have trouble remembering old things, or storing new information and then recalling that information
David Says:
Aloha Glenn,
Congratulations on another year of outstanding weather reporting and community service through your website! It is such a pleasure to have your reports and confidence in knowing you are keeping an eye out for weather events.
I am curious if you have a theory for why we experienced no hurricanes coming our way last year? If you have already answered this, please direct me to the archival location.
Mahalo and Happy New Year!
david
~~~ Hi David, thank you so much for your gracious praise on my website reporting…I feel honored!
As for last years hurricane season (2017), which turned out to be a bust. I say bust because it was forecast to be near to above normal. My idea is that due to El Nino not developing as expected, that probably had some major bearing on the distinct lack of tropical cyclone activity. Good question by the way…
Happy New Year David!
Aloha, Glenn
David Adam Says:
I resolved to make no resolutions….I Gettum now….By the way, do you know how long it has been since we had an ascending full moon for new years Eve Day. Full moon was about 4:23 p.m. in the afternoon on the 1st…I’d bet there were some wild and heavy New Year’s parties..We had an Ohana Luau (Lau Laus, Kalua Pig, etc….Real “King Kong” kine and now, back to my health food/Vege trip…Did I pay for grinding like I did? Oh yeah….Heavily….Lol. The best wishes to you and your dear Mom….I pray your year is happy fruitful…Aloha Nui!
~~~ Hi David (wow, 2 Maggies yesterday, and two Davids Leaving comments today), it sounds like you had an unusual New Year’s party, at least in terms of your normal eating habits…sounded fun!
Thanks for this latest comment…of the many you shared last year.
Happy New Year to you too, and thanks for sending your best wishes to my Mom and I.
Aloha, Glenn