Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / February 14-15, 2018

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

76 – 64  Lihue, Kauai
78 – 72  Honolulu, Oahu
79 – 68  Molokai AP
86 – 63  Kahului AP, Maui
85 – 71  Kailua Kona
86 – 70  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.33  Makaha Ridge, Kauai
3.42  Nuuanu Upper, Oahu
0.75  Molokai
0.67  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
1.31  Puu Kukui, Maui
1.88  Kealakomo, Big Island

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

10  Port Allen, Kauai
13  Kuaokala, Oahu
16  Molokai
18  Lanai
24  Kahoolawe
35  Kula 1, Maui
20  Hilo AP, 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

Low pressure northwest moving closer…with associated unsettled weather

Shower bands will be moving across the state…some heavy

Abundant moisture is arriving…on the southwest kona winds

Showers locally…especially the central islands – Looping image

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Flash Flood Watch…Maui County and the Big Island

 Flood Advisory…Maui 

Wind Advisory…Big Island summits / 35-50 with some gusts over 55 mph

Broad Brush Overview: Periods of rainy weather will occur over most of the state during the next few days, as an area of low pressure to the northwest drifts closer to the islands. This approaching low will maintain sultry conditions, and bring periods of off-and-on heavy rain…along with a slight chance of thunderstorms. A drying trend is expected over Kauai and Oahu Thursday and Friday as the low weakens, although a shower bearing trough will linger near the Big Island and Maui County. The drying trend may be short-lived however, as yet another low may bring increasing showers next week.

Details: Look for variable clouds over the state, while showers remain active over Oahu, with showers also moving into southeast side of the Big Island. As the low to the northwest moves closer, the potential for unsettled weather is expected to shift east toward Maui County tonight and Thursday. Forecast models are indicating that the strongest dynamics associated with the low will remain a bit north of the islands, although there is the potential for localized strong to severe thunderstorms…especially tonight and Thursday. A drying trend will begin over Kauai and Oahu Thursday and Thursday night.

Looking Ahead: The inclement weather producing low pressure system will weaken and lift north toward the end of the week. However, it will leave a trough of low pressure near parts of Maui County and the Big Island, with localized off-and-on shower activity. Another low aloft is expected to develop northwest of the islands over the weekend, and rapidly approach our already rather soaked state. This may bring another round of unsettled weather, as the associated surface trough moves east over the state. Finally, we might see the long absent trade winds begin to return toward the end of next week…along with the usual windward showers.

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: Moderate to strong southerly winds impacting the waters will persist into tonight, as low pressure drifts southward northwest of Kauai. Locally strong winds and choppier conditions will be possible in and around any heavy showers or thunderstorms that develop through this time. The best chance for downpours will gradually shift eastward down the island chain through the second half of the work week. Light to moderate westerly winds are expected to gradually fill in over the Oahu and Kauai waters by Thursday, then shift north and northeast and become light Friday into the weekend…with land and sea breeze conditions possible locally.

The latest observations from the nearshore buoys reflect a swell peaking out of northwest, that’s associated with low pressure that reached hurricane-force strength this past weekend, as it raced northeastward across the central Pacific. This event will be short-lived with a gradual downward trend expected through Thursday. The Small Craft Advisory covers the waters exposed to northwest swells.

By the weekend, small to moderate overlapping west-northwest swells will fill in across the local waters. Surf associated with these sources will remain below advisory levels along north and west facing shores through this time.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

World-wide Tropical Cyclone activity

Here’s the latest PDC Weather Wall Presentation, covering Tropical Cyclone 02W (Sanba) and Tropical Cyclone 09P (Gita)…and a tropical disturbance near Darwin, Australia

>>> 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 Cyclone 02W (Sanba)

JTWC textual forecast warning
JTWC graphical track map
NOAA satellite image