May 11-12 2008

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

Lihue, Kauai – 81
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 79
Kahului, Maui – 86
Hilo, Hawaii – 80
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 82

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 5 p.m. Sunday evening:

Honolulu, Oahu – 82F
Hilo, Hawaii – 76   

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: 

0.48  MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.47 POAMOHO 2, OAHU
0.00 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.05 KAHOOLAWE
1.34 PUU KUKUI, MAUI
0.79 WAIAKEA UKA, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure centers far to the NE of the state. This large area of high pressure will keep trade winds blowing across our islands Monday…gradually getting lighter into Tuesday.

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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Happy Mothers Day!

Moderately strong trade winds will give way to lighter trade breezes Monday. A small craft wind advisory was trimmed down Saturday, which on Sunday includes only the major channels around Maui and the Big Island, plus Maalaea Bay…which should be canceled altogether Monday. Our local winds will be getting even lighter by Tuesday, and for several days thereafter. During the Tuesday through Friday period, they will in the very light and variable realms. The weather models show them picking up again by the weekend…then continuing into the following week.

As the trade winds are still blowing, the focus for showers will remain anchored along the windward sides through Monday. The leeward beaches will be generally quite dry, although showers could fall along the Kona slopes of the Big Island during the late afternoons. The bias for showers will shift over to the interior areas starting Tuesday afternoon, with afternoon showers occurring each day through Friday. The generosity of these convective showers will be somewhat limited, so that no flooding problems are anticipated at this time.

It’s Sunday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative.  As described above, a fairly routine trade wind weather pattern will prevail here in the islands through Monday. As Tuesday arrives, our trade winds will be pretty much completely gone, with whatever light breezes that will be around then…drifting up from a southeast direction. This means that we’ll see voggy weather in many parts of the state for several days thereafter.

~~~ A cold front approaching the state from the NW will prompt this change in our weather circumstances. As we get into the heart of this convective weather pattern, our days will start off with clear skies, along with slightly cooler than normal early morning air temperatures…giving way to rather sultry conditions as the sun gets higher in the sky during the days. The daytime heating will cause clouds to build up over and around the mountains during the afternoons, with precipitation falling in the upcountry areas. Clouds typically evaporate again after dark, with the process beginning again the next day.

~~~ It’s Mother’s Day…one of the most special holiday’s of the year! My Mom, whose name is Dorothy James, lives in Long Beach, California. It’s pretty much a given, that we all love our Mom’s, no doubt about that fact! I’d like to wish each and every Mom that happens to be reading these words, the very best day. I was just talking to my Mom yesterday, and she reminded me that it only happens once a year…giving us just this one special Sunday to tell our Mothers just how much they mean to us. I sent my Mom two orchid plants, from Haiku, Maui. I know that everyone sends a card, and tries to get together with this special lady in our lives, or at least sends a nice card. You can’t say it too often: Happy Mothers Day!

~~~ I was able to connect with my Mother today through a software program called Skype. My neighbor connected with my Mom and Dad via her portable computer, which had a built in camera. I was able to see my Mom and Dad, and others in my family, while they could see me on their computer…talking live to each other at the same time, via microphones in our computers. We walked around this property, showing my parents our garden, and where I lived, including my weather tower here in Kula, Maui. It was pretty amazing, and especially for my parents! My Mom was able to show me the orchids that I had sent her for a Mothers Day present.

~~~ It’s quite clear here on Maui this evening, with not many clouds around at all, much less rainfall. I understand that the Big Island’s windward sides are where the most showers were falling. I hope everyone had a chance to communicate with their Mom in person, or at least on the telephone on this special day. If not, I trust spirits were touched in such a way that an intimate Mother son and daughter connection was continued through yet another year. I’ll be back again with your next new weather narrative from paradise very early Monday morning. I hope you have a great Sunday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.