Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday…along with the minimums Sunday:

86 – 77  Lihue, Kauai
91 – 78  Honolulu, Oahu – the record for Sunday was 93…set back in 1997
85 – 76  Molokai
87 – 78  Kahului AP, Maui 
90 – 77  Kailua Kona
89 – 74  Hilo, Hawaii

Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands, as of Sunday evening:

0.82  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.23  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.54  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.07  Kahoolawe
0.72  Kahakuloa, Maui
2.37  Pohakuloa Kipuka Alala, Big Island

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph)…as of Sunday evening:

16  Poipu, Kauai – NE
27  Kuaokala, Oahu – NNE
20  Molokai – NNE
31  Lanai – NE
23  Kahoolawe – SE
21  Kapalua, Maui – NE
24  Puu Mali, Big Island – NE

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live web cam on the summit of near 13,800 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. This web cam is available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon shining down during the night at times. Plus, during the nights you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise and sunset too… depending upon weather conditions.


Aloha Paragraphs

http://weather.unisys.com/satellite/sat_ir_enh_west_loop-12.gif
 Hurricane 12E (Ignacio) remains active over the ocean to the
east of Hawaii, with Hurricane Jimena following further  behind
to the east-southeast…and Hurricane Kilo located to the
west of Hawaii

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/tpac/ft-l.jpg
Wind shear is disrupting the upper portion of Hurricane
Ignacio…taking its toll on the strength of this storm

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/tc_graphics/2015/graphics/EP122015W.gif
Hurricane 12E (Ignacio)…will move by offshore to the north and
northeast of Hawaii as a Hurricane (H ) / Tropical Storm (S)

 

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/floaters/12E/imagery/vis0-lalo.gif
Hurricane Ignacio is losing its classic symmetrical shape of its
cloud signature – this hurricane is encountering wind shear now
and will be steadily weakening going forward

 

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/tc_graphics/2015/probwinds/EP122015_PROB34_F120.gif

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/cpac/vis.jpg
Wind shear is carrying some of the upper portion of
Hurricane Ignacio to the northeast…while Hurricane
Kilo (left of HI) is still tightly wound…and now Hurricane
Jimena, with its distinct eye is coming into the picture 

Here’s a wind profile…so we can keep an eye on
these hurricanes


http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/hi/vis.jpg
Hurricane Ignacio to the east…with just a faint eye


http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/RadarImg/hawaii.gif
There are showers around, mostly offshore…
although some are over the islands locally too
looping radar image

Hurricane Warning…offshore waters beyond 40 miles

High Surf Warning…east shores of the Big Island and Maui /
High Surf Advisory…other islands

Small Craft Advisory…Big Island windward and southeast
waters, northwest Kauai waters, windward waters, Oahu
windward waters, and the Kaiwi Channel, Pailolo Channel,
Maui County windward waters…and Alenuihaha Channel

 

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

Please remember to refresh your browser each time you come to this Narrative Page, as I’m updating the information above and below constantly…and refreshing/reloading will allow you to see the very latest data and pictures

Light to moderate trades, locally stronger in gusts will continue…then turning light from the south as Tropical Storm Ignacio moves by to our northeast. Here’s the latest weather map, showing the Hawaiian Islands, and the rest of the North Pacific Ocean, along with a wind profiler of the central Pacific. We find a large moderately strong high pressure system far to the north of the state. At the same time we see hurricanes far to our west, much closer to our east, and further to the east-southeast. Our winds will be light to moderate trades..a little while longer. Hurricane and then Tropical Storm Ignacio is forecast to move by offshore to the north and northeast of the islands, during the first half of this new week, our local winds will turn light southerlies, coming up from the deeper tropics. The later part of the week will continue to be characterized by unusual (for the summer season) southerly breezes…keeping extremely sultry conditions in place.

We’re experiencing a fairly normal trade wind weather pattern, with only scattered showers…although some are locally heavy. As the trade winds remain active over our area for a little while longer, we’ll see windward showers falling, with a few showers falling elsewhere. As Ignacio slides by, conditions will turn locally showery at times…especially towards the middle of this week. It will all depend upon how close the center of  Ignacio comes to our islands. At the moment, the Big Island and Maui County would be closest to Ignacio, and may have the greatest chance of rains, with the other islands getting into the act with time. If Ignacio stays far enough offshore, the heaviest rains would remain over the offshore waters in turn. As Ignacio passes off to the northwest during the second half of this work week, we may see increased showers for a couple of days, as the showery tail of this storm passes across the state from east to west.

Hurricane 12E (Ignacio) is moving towards the northwest, and is approaching our area now…first on the Big Island side of the state. As of the latest CPHC advisory, the closest point of approach, from the center of Ignacio to Hilo will be 215 miles, 207 miles from Haleakala here on Maui, 219 miles from Kaneohe, Oahu, and finally 242 miles offshore from Lihue, Kauai. Ignacio will continue to be watched closely, as it moves into closer range of the islands now. As it looks from here, we may turn somewhat more showery late today through Wednesday, although locally. Here’s a satellite image, and the CPHC graphical track map, and what the computer models are showing.

Based on the most recent advisory, Hurricane Ignacio remains at category 2 strength…with 105 mph sustained winds. Going forward from here, it looks like we’ll find a gradually weakening hurricane/tropical storm. Nonetheless, we’ll be dealing with a relatively close call, by what will have been down graded to tropical storm Ignacio as it gets into the area north of Oahu and Kauai. The exact distance offshore of this tropical cyclone, will have a bearing on how our local winds react in different parts of the state. We’re hoping to see this storm will remain well offshore, which would help to limit our exposure to winds directly associated with Ignacio – which seems very likely now…thank goodness!

A high surf warning is in effect for the east facing shores of the Big Island and Maui…from a swell generated by hurricane Ignacio. A high surf advisory also in effect for the rest of the state’s eastern shores. Timing for the other islands will be delayed due to shadowing and blocking from the Big Island and Maui. Swells generated by Ignacio are now arriving along east and southeast facing shores of the Big Island and Maui, and increase to 15 to 20 feet through today. Resultant surf will be large and potentially life-threatening, especially on the eastern islands of the Hawaiian Island chain. Some coastal inundation of low lying areas is expected…especially at high tide.

Meanwhile, Hurricane 13E (Jimena) remains active in the eastern Pacific. Jimena continues to be a major category 4 hurricane at the moment, just short of reaching category 5. This hurricane will come into our central Pacific, and as it stands at the moment, as a major category 3 tropical cyclone (111-129 mph)…by Tuesday. Here’s a satellite image, and the NHC graphical track map, and what the computer models are showing. This is a very strong hurricane in the eastern Pacific, although it will have reached its peak before coming over into our central Pacific…and will be gradually losing power as it heads west-northwestward and then turning more northwestward. There’s a very good chance that hurricane Jemina will stay away from our area…well to the northeast of the state later this weekend into early next week. 

Here on Maui…It’s 605am Sunday morning, and it’s mostly clear to partly cloudy, although clouds and some showers are active over our windward coasts and slopes this morning…for a change. / Now at 830am, we ‘re having light showers here in Kula, with more of those falling along the windward side and up into Pukalani too. Looking down into the central valley, the clouds are trying to spread over towards Maalaea and Kihei it seems too, at least that’s how it looks from up here in Kula. I wonder if Napili, Kaanapali and even Lahaina are wet now too? Maui and the Big Island are having this very first peek at the very outer edges of Ignacio. However, this first wave of showers will be followed by a rather impressive period of clear skies out ahead of Ignacio.

– We’re into the middle of the afternoon now, under partly to mostly cloudy skies, with an occasional shower there and there. I can see a few small patches of sunshine as I glance around the island, although here in Kula its mostly cloudy, with an occasional light shower. It’s pretty hot and humid, especially down near sea level, where high temperatures reached up towards 90 degrees in a few places. 

– It’s now near 7pm, under partly to mostly cloudy skies, with a few showers around the edges…although just some fog up here in Kula at the moment. It’s so muggy, gawd, really so warm and humid, unusual for this high up on the slopes of the Haleakala Crater where I live. I can just imagine how it feels down closer to the beaches. Then, to think about having these trade winds veer around to the south, the kona direction, most of the new week. We’re going to feel like we live in Borneo, or Java, or Miami Beach, as that’s how its going to feel, without the saving grace of the normal trade winds blowing. I’m a bit unnerved by this prospect, although it will be better than slammed with hurricane force winds…lets face it! / Another thing, at sunset, or just past, there are towering cumulus clouds popping up on the horizon in several directions. This suggests strongly that the atmosphere remains unstable and shower prone. Likely most of the showers will move out over the warm ocean tonight, where they’ll have the best chance for development.

Here’s the numbers…during the last month there have been 461,169 visits to this website as of yesterday (Saturday). There had been 1,097,467 page impressions on this website during that same period. In terms of the number of clicks on the google ads on this site, there had been 2,697 as of yesterday. Thank you very much for visiting Hawaii Weather Today online!

I’ll be back with many more updates on all of the above and below, I hope you have a great Sunday night wherever you’re spending it! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Friday Evening Film: I really needed to get away from the computer, get away from hurricane coverage, and go downtown, hang out with some friends, have dinner, and see an action film…really needed to! This film is called The Man From U.N.C.L.E. starring Henry Cavill, Alicia Vikander, Armie Hammer, Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Debicki, and Jared Harris…among many others. The synopsis: “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

This was such a delicious distraction from hurricane monitoring, believe me! As I’m short of time, what else is new these days, I’m going to make this review short and sweet. The film was a great blend of comedy and pretty heavy duty violence, although not terribly violent by any means. It was very entertaining, with lots of style…delivering humor, action, handsome men, and beautiful women all mixing it up in a smart way. My friend Svetlana gave it a full-on A grade, top of the line, while Jeff and I turned over a slightly less impressive -A rating. I was so happy to see this elegant James Bond type thriller! In case any of this catches your interest…here’s the trailer.


World-wide tropical cyclone activity:

>>> Atlantic Ocean:

Hurricane 06L (Fred) remains active over the Atlantic Ocean, with sustained winds of 85 mph…and is located about 55 miles west-northwest of Rabil in the Cape Verde Islands. Here’s the NHC graphical track map, and a satellite image…and what the computer models are showing

Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean

>>> Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> Gulf of Mexico: There are no active tropical cyclones

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:

Hurricane 13E (Jimena) remains active in the northeast Pacific, with sustained winds of 150 mph…and is located about 1330 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii. Here’s the NHC graphical track map, and a satellite image. Here’s what the computer models are showing. This dynamic hurricane just a few mph short of reaching category 5!

1.)  Showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure located about 650 miles miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, have changed little in organization overnight. Environmental conditions appear conducive for development, and this system is likely to become a tropical depression during the next day or two while it begins to move northwestward at about 10 mph. If development has not occurred by mid-week, less favorable upper-level winds could make tropical cyclone formation less likely.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…80 percent
* Formation chance through 5 days…high…90 percent

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:

Hurricane 12E (Ignacio) remains active in the central Pacific, with sustained winds of 105 mph…and is located about 335 miles east of Hana, Hawaii. Here’s the NHC graphical track map, and a satellite image. Here’s what the computer models are showing

Hurricane 03C (Kilo) remains active in the central Pacific, with sustained winds of 135 mph, which is a major category 4 system, and is located about 480 miles south-southwest of Midway Island. Here’s the CPHC graphical track map, and a satellite image. Here’s what the computer models are showing. This hurricane is forecast to begin weakening now…and continues to pose no threat to the Hawaiian Islands.

Here’s a link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

>>> South Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones


>>> North and South Indian Oceans: There are no active tropical cyclones

Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)


Interesting: Walrus’s hit the beaches again – On both sides of the Bering Strait, summer sea ice has once more dropped to a level that is driving thousands of walruses onto coastal beaches.

Photos taken in Ryrkaypiy in Chukotka, Russia show an estimated 5,000 walruses hauled out in that spot, while across the strait in the United States, thousands more are hauled out near the village of Point Lay, Alaska. Villagers in both places are working to protect resting walrus herds from curious onlookers, as walruses hauled out in such large numbers on beaches are prone to being stampeded, killing smaller animals in the crush.

During the late summer and early fall, the Pacific walruses of the Chukchi Sea north of Alaska and of Russia’s Chukotka prefer to rest on sea ice over the shallow waters of the continental shelf. In those areas they can readily access food on the seabed. However, in most years since 2007 when Arctic sea ice extent plummeted to a record low, walruses have been forced ashore because there has been no sea ice over their preferred shallow feeding areas.

“This past July was the second warmest on record for Alaska,” said Pete Ewins, WWF Arctic species specialist. “So it’s not surprising that we’re seeing these animals on the beaches quite early. While haulouts can be potentially dangerous to the animals gathered on shore, we’re concerned about what events such as these mean for the health of the entire Arctic marine system.”

The haulouts are also happening just days before US President Barack Obama, foreign ministers and other senior representatives visit the region to attend a US government hosted Arctic meeting known as GLACIER. During their visit, they will discuss the changing climate of the region and the need to come together and support a strong climate deal during the global climate negotiations in Paris.