Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / December 24-25, 2017

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

75 – 56  Lihue, Kauai – broke the low max record for the date Sunday…which was 76 in 1990
83 – 66  Honolulu, Oahu
77 – 65  Molokai
79 – 59  Kahului AP, Maui
80 – 63  Kailua Kona
80 – 63  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.01  Hanalei, Kauai
0.16  Ahuimanu Loop, Oahu
0.04  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.00  Maui
0.03  Kawainui Stream, Big Island

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

27  Lihue, Kauai
25  Kuaokala, Oahu
16  Molokai
21  Lanai
20  Kahoolawe
23  Maalaea Bay, Maui
18  PTA Keamuku, 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

A storm well north…an associated cold front close to Kauai

Clear to partly cloudy…some cloudy areas

Just a few showers – Looping image

High Surf Advisory…north and west shores of Kauai, and north shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Christmas Day forecast: Trades with a few windward showers…dry leeward

New Year’s Eve/Day forecast: Trade winds…increasing windward showers

Broad Brush Overview: The northeasterly trade winds will shift more easterly Christmas Day, bringing clouds and a few showers to windward slopes and coasts, while leeward areas remain dry. The potential for unsettled weather increases Tuesday and Wednesday, as a developing low passes close to the islands, bringing southerly kona winds and showers. A cold front associated with this low is expected to keep weather unsettled through Thursday, as it moves across the island chain. Cool north to northeast winds are expected Friday and Saturday…bringing a few windward showers.

Details: Few changes in island weather are expected through Christmas, with moderate trades veering to the east Christmas Day, as surface high pressure passes north of the state. Shallow moisture associated with a nearby cold front northwest of Kauai, is expected to be pushed south…before briefly stalling near Kauai tonight and Monday. This may bring a modest increase in windward showers for Kauai, before lifting away to the north later Monday. Gradual moistening of the atmosphere, will likely allow a few shallow trade wind showers to develop elsewhere around the state during this time. 

Looking Further Ahead:  The models continue to bring a potent trough of low pressure towards the islands from the northwest Monday night and Tuesday, leading to the development of a low north of the islands by mid-week. Increasing south to southwest kona winds are expected Monday night and Tuesday, leading to increased showers focusing over leeward portions of the islands…with some spreading to the windward sides. The low will then move north of the islands Wednesday, pushing a cold front with showers across the state through Thursday.

While model guidance has not been consistent with the details, there appears to be some potential for locally gusty winds, heavy showers and even a few thunderstorms late Tuesday through Wednesday. A new high building far northwest of the area may bring a drying trend, and stronger and cool north to northeast winds Thursday and Friday. The very low confidence forecast for New Year’s Eve/Day features moderate trade winds, with off and on passing windward shower activity.

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: A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect primarily as a result of the current north-northwest swell. This advisory is in effect for the waters exposed to this swell, which will gradually lower through Monday. A reinforcing north-northwest swell, from a low tracking north of the islands, will build and peak Monday below advisory levels, before the swell turns more northerly Tuesday.

The longer term swell forecast, beyond Wednesday, is more uncertain, although the models suggest that a large north swell will build late Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the south shores should see out of season…small south-southwest swells arriving during the new week ahead.

Merry Christmas!

World-wide Tropical Cyclone activity

>>> Here’s the latest PDC Weather Wall Presentation, covering Tropical Storm 33W (Tembin)

>>> 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 Storm 33W (Tembin) remains active, here’s a graphical track map…and a satellite image