Hawaii Weather Today » Glenn’s Daily Weather Narrative

Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / July 18-19, 2025

Posted by Glenn

The latest update to this website was at 1205pm Friday (HST)

Here are the highest temperatures Thursday…and the lowest Friday morning:

85 – 75 Lihue AP, Kauai
82 – 74 Molokai AP, Molokai
86 – 75 Kahului AP, Maui
85 – 73 Kona AP, Big Island
83 – 71 Hilo, AP, Big Island

Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of Friday afternoon:

0.37 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.56 Schofield East, Oahu
0.36 Puu Lua, Molokai
0.12 Lanai City, Lanai
1.16 West Wailuaiki, Maui
1.25 Kulaimano, Big Island

>>> There are lots of locations that measure rainfall and winds, here’s a map of all areas for your reference (the map is clickable to zoom in closer)

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Friday afternoon:

25 Port Allen, Kauai
27 Kuaokala, Oahu
27 Molokai AP, Molokai
23 Lanai 1, Lanai
37 Na Kula, Maui
35 Puuanahulu, Big Island

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcams on the summit of our tallest mountain Mauna Kea (~13,800 feet high) on the Big Island of Hawaii, and atop the Haleakala Crater (~10,023 feet) 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.

Big Blue…click twice for largest version

Thunderstorms forming mostly southeast of the state

Low clouds being carried our way on the trade winds

High level clouds moving into the state from the west

Localized showers

Kauai and Oahu (Satellite)

Kauai and Oahu (Radar)

Oahu and Maui County (Satellite)

Oahu and Maui County (Radar)

Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, and the Big Island (Satellite)

Maui County and the Big Island (Radar)

Big Island (Radar)

Model showing precipitation through 8-days (you can slow this animation down)

Please open this link to see details on any current Watches, Warnings and Advisories noted above

~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~

Glenn’s Aloha Friday comments: I’m home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii.

It’s partly to mostly cloudy here in Maui County early this morning with some high clouds and clouds locally along the windward side. The low temperature at my place was 57.5 degrees.

1206pm, cloudy here in upper Kula, with a few rather large drops falling from these clouds.

Weather Wit of the day: Draftsman – A person who hates to shut doors and windows

>>> Summertime…Kenny G @ George Benson music video

>>> Highest Temperature Thursday, July 17, 2025 – 114 at Stovepipe, CA
>>> Lowest Temperature Friday, July 18, 2025 – 33 near Kipling, MI

Hawaii’s Broad Brush Weather Overview: The downstream pressure gradient from a near stationary area of surface high pressure far northeast of the islands, will maintain light to breezy trades the next several days. Lessened stability from a weak upper low northwest of Kauai, along with higher moisture pooling north of the state, will increase shower frequency and coverage, primarily north of the island chain through Monday. There is a decent chance for periods of heavy rain on or around Kauai with low probabilities for isolated weekend thunderstorms. Stable, drier weather is expected to return early next week.

Hawaii’s Weather Details: A relatively quiet start to our day precipitation-wise, as the islands lay under weak ridging and drier air is being carried in on moderate trades. High level clouds are gracing our skies Friday. Thursday evening`s highest rainfall focused along windward Big Island, where a few South Hilo sites picked up a quick quarter to half of an inch.

A pattern change developing today will increase weekend rainfall over the more western islands of Oahu and Kauai and waters. Stability will begin to erode today with the evolution of a weak mid to upper level low forming just north northwest of the state, in combination with a mid level trough moving in from the east. These features will likely provide a boost in rain chances mainly north of the islands, with higher precipitation passing into Oahu and Kauai later tonight through Sunday.

The chance for more widespread rainfall will be increased by a surge of unseasonably high moisture arriving on modest trades. The majority of the model guidance depict a distinct swath of higher rain paralleling 20 to 25 degrees north latitidue. While confidence is moderately high that more western islands will experience a wetter weekend (than the eastern half), the chance of thunderstorms remains fairly low.

Upper levels should cool enough to provide the needed instability required to place isolated thunderstorms in northern Kauai and surrounding waters from late Saturday through early Monday. The proximity of the low across the far northern maritime waters will likely focus organized convection over the far northern offshore waters this weekend. The timing of the heaviest rain will depend upon the evolution of the upper low in conjunction with the greatest moisture.

A stable summer-like trade wind pattern will return by late Monday, as lingering moisture advances west and drier air arrives in its wake. The upper level low will no longer be an issue from Tuesday onward, as it meanders off to the northwest and ridging re-establishes itself over the islands.

Fire weather: Fire weather concerns will be low this weekend as a result of a wetter pattern. Trade winds will remain light to locally breezy the next several days with a higher frequency of showers. Drier weather is expected to return early next week. This may increase the fire weather threat over those leeward areas that may not receive the full benefit of significant weekend rain.

Here’s a near real-time Wind Profile of the Pacific Ocean – along with a Closer View of the islands / Vog map animation

Hawaii’s Marine Environment: High pressure will remain nearly stationary far northeast of the state through the middle of next week. Fresh to locally strong trades will persist then drop slightly as a weak low- level trough moves through the state from the east through the weekend. The Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is currently in effect for the windier waters and channels around Maui County and the Big Island. The SCA will likely be scaled back to just the Alenuihaha Channel tonight. Trade winds will continue to gradually decline to gentle to locally fresh through the forecast period.

A mixed southerly swell will provide average surf along south facing shores through early Saturday. A new small, long period southwest swell will fill in slowly Saturday, peak over the weekend, before declining slowly through early next week.

Surf along east facing shores will continue to remain choppy due to the fresh to locally strong trade winds, before declining slightly over the weekend. Surf along north facing shores will remain nearly flat through the forecast period.

Peak high tides associated with the lunar cycle could lead to minor coastal flooding along shorelines and low-lying coastal areas next week Monday through Wednesday, during the daily peak tide each afternoon.