April 10-11 2006

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Monday:

Lihue, Kauai – 76F
Honolulu, Oahu – 78
Kaneohe, Oahu – 75
Kahului, Maui – 80
Hilo, Hawaii – 79
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 85

Temperatures early Tuesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:

Kailua-kona – 73
Hilo airport – 64

Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals during the last 24 hours (as of Tuesday morning) on each of the major islands, including:

1.68 MOUNT WAIALAELAE, KAUAI
0.18 WAIAWA,OAHU
0.08 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
1.10 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
0.34 LAUPAHOEHOE, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a high pressure system to the north of Hawaii. This pressure configuration will cause moderately strong trade winds to blow Tuesday through Wednesday…strong and gusty at times. Here’s a Weather Map Symbol page for clarification about what all those funny weather symbols mean.

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 only available during the daylight hours here in the islands…that is unless there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two!

Satellite 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.

Aloha Paragraphs
Hawaiian Bananas still on the tree
Photo: Douglas Peebles

The Hawaiian Islands will remain in a rather quick paced trade wind flow for the time being. These trade winds will spin-out of a moderately strong high pressure system to the north of here. The latest computer forecast models suggest that this trade wind producing high pressure cell will stay in place through the next week. The NWS forecast office in Honolulu has a small craft wind advisory in force over most Hawaiian waters through the end of this work week. Look for wind blowing in the 10-25 mph range, with those windiest spots finding winds gusting up over 30 mph at times.

This is all pretty common for the springtime month of April. It wouldn’t be unusual to see these breezy trade winds blowing through much of the rest of the month. They will be blowing on the strong side of the wind speed spectrum through the next several days. There’s the outside chance that those most windy spots, particularly around Maui and the Big Island, may see a wind advisory being issued. During these windy episodes, we can sometimes see wind gusts approach 40 mph, and even top that high number at times. All this “air in a hurry” will keep our local Hawaiian waters choppy with white caps, and the palm trees swaying over land.

Meanwhile, clouds being carried towards the islands on these trade winds, will continue to deposit some showers along the windward sides of the islands. There were off and on showers along those coastal slopes this past weekend, which will continue at times through the coming week…increasing some as the tail-end of old cold fronts bring more clouds then. The leeward sides will remain mostly dry, except on the smaller islands, where some showers may get carried over there on the gusty trade winds.

This latest satellite image shows that there is lots of sun dimming high clouds spreading over the islands now. This was the case Sunday as well, when there was lots of filtering of the sun, although which ended up giving a beautifully colorful sunset. These high clouds will stick around for the time being, providing muted sunshine. There will probably be some thin spots in the overcast, which will allow some sun too peek through here and there. It won’t be a solid overcast, so it won’t end up being too much of a problem, except for those folks who really want a mostly sunny day.

It’s early Monday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I start writing today’s sunset commentary. It was anything but a banner day for sunshine, as high clouds kept our tropical sun to a minimum in most areas. It was warm nonetheless, with short little blasts of solar radiation beaming down here and there. The latest models show these high clouds moving away over the next day or perhaps two. This will return us to our more normal sunny weather, especially along the leeward south and west facing beaches. Everyone is still a little nervous about clouds and rain returning, after such an onslaught if off and on rainy weather, hung on through most of the month of March. Please rest assured that just isn’t going to happen again anytime soon! I got to the beach today at lunch, and sure enough, it was very warm and pleasant. Despite the muted sunlight, it was still sunny enough to get a layer of tan, if that was what you were there for. I was there for a quick walk and dip in the ocean, which I managed quite nicely. It’s now just before sunset, and perhaps the high cirrus clouds may light up with some pink color in a few minutes…I’ll be watching. I hope you have a great Monday night! If you’re so inclined, please join me here again early Tuesday morning, as I’ll have a brand new narrative waiting for your reading pleasure then. Aloha for now…Glenn.

P.S. As a way of thanking my link advertisers, and to draw your attention to their good services…I’m highlighting each of them individually now. They can be found on the left hand margin of all my webpages. Today’s business is Dozzizart of Maui …art work by Michael Nardozzi~~~Although Michael had always possessed an insatiable craving for the ocean and its next swell (surfing until he was too tired to paddle another stroke), it wasn’t until Michael ventured beneath the ocean’s surface that he witnessed the real gift. He discovered the life and color and beauty of the Pacific that inspired him greatly. The yellow tangs, Moorish idols, clown fish, trigger fish, pencil urchins, sea turtles, crystal clear waters and intricate reef system energized him, as he feverishly began cutting, welding, sculpting and painting those images for others to enjoy. Check out his art work using the link to his site on the left hand margin of this page.