Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / January 3-4, 2018

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

78 – 72  Lihue, Kauai
83 – 69  Honolulu, Oahu
79 – 65  Molokai
80 – 67  Kahului AP, Maui
81 – 65  Kailua Kona
80 – 62  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.08  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.01  Kahuku, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.00  Maui
0.01  South Point, Big Island

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) Wednesday evening:

29  Port Allen, Kauai
30  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
22  Molokai
32  Lanai
31  Kahoolawe
30  Maalaea Bay, Maui
31  Kealakomo, 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

Large high pressure system north…storm low far northwest

High cirrus northwest and northeast

Clear to partly cloudy…some cloudy areas

A few showers – Looping image

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Small Craft Advisory…Maalaea Bay, Pailolo and Alenuihaha Channels, Big Island leeward and southeast waters

Wind Advisory…south and north Big Island, east Kohala

Broad Brush Overview: The current trade wind pattern will hold through Friday, as high pressure prevails over the state. A slight increase in moisture over the upcoming weekend may lead to better windward shower coverage, with moderate to breezy trades continuing. A pattern shift is possible next week as a cold front and upper trough approach the area.

Details:  The abundance of dry air and deep layer ridging continue to limit shower development. Any showers that do develop will be brief with minimal accumulations across the board. This trend is expected to continue through Friday with the moderate to breezy trades remaining active. The models are suggesting a slight increase in moisture arriving with the trades during the weekend…mostly affecting the windward sides.

Looking Further Ahead: The models go on to point out a pattern change, as a trough of low pressure, and its attendant cold front approach and move into the island chain around the middle of next week. This is a long ways out however, and this idea may need to be altered or scraped altogether…stay tuned as additional model runs work out the details.

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: The current northwest swell will continue to slowly lower. The next swell is due to arrive Friday night, peak Saturday afternoon and evening, then start fading slowly Sunday. The size of this swell is slightly larger than the current diminishing swell. A High Surf Advisory is likely for most of the islands exposed to this swell. There could be blockage from Kauai, resulting in smaller surf for Oahu’s north and west shores. Although by the same token, it also means potential high surf for the Big Island’s Kona coast. A moderate size northwest swell is due in next Monday night and Tuesday.

World-wide Tropical Cyclone activity

>>> Here’s the latest PDC Weather Wall Presentation, covering Tropical Cyclone 03S (Ava) in the South Indian Ocean…and Tropical Cyclone 01W (Bolaven) is moving towards Vietnam

>>> 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 Depression 01W (Bolaven) – Final Warning

JTWC textual forecast warning
JTWC graphical track map
NOAA satellite image