Hawaiian Islands Weather Details & Aloha Paragraphs / March 29-30, 2018

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

80 – 64  Lihue, Kauai
83 – 66  Honolulu, Oahu
85 – 64  Molokai AP
86 – 63  Kahului AP, Maui
83 – 71  Kailua Kona
80 – 69  Hilo AP, Hawaii

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

0.43  Waimea Heights, Kauai
0.12  Punaluu Pump, Oahu
0.00  Molokai
0.01  Lanai
0.00  Kahoolawe
0.34  Hana AP, Maui
1.29  Kealakomo, Big Island

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

13  Moloaa Dairy, Kauai
16  Wheeler AAF, Oahu
12  Molokai
13  Lanai
13  Kahoolawe
21  Kahului AP, Maui
20  Puuanahulu, 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

Gale low pressure systems northwest…troughs of low pressure northeast

Clouds associated with the troughs northeast…high clouds north

Generally clear…although with a few clouds in our vicinity

Just a few clouds over the islands
  Looping image

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

Broad Brush Overview: The current period of light breezes and dry weather will continue through Friday, with a ridge of high pressure nearby. Mostly clear nights and mornings will prevail, with clouds and just a few showers forming over the islands during the afternoons. A cold front will approach Kauai from the northwest this weekend, then linger well into next week. As this front remains nearby, periods of clouds and showers are expected, mainly on Kauai and Oahu…with areas of volcanic haze affecting the islands at times.

Details: The trade winds will stay away from the islands, as a deep area of low pressure prevails to the northwest of the state. An approaching cold front will edge up close to Kauai this weekend and much of next week, bringing periods of clouds and showers to Kauai and potentially Oahu. Clouds and showers associated with the front may move deeper into the state towards the middle of next week, bringing gusty south to southwest kona winds.  

The long lasting period of light winds with mostly dry conditions will prevail statewide through Friday. This will allow light winds to come up from the southeast to south, bringing vog from the Big Island vents over the next couple of days. Winds will be sufficiently light to allow land and sea breezes to develop over the islands, with mostly clear skies nights and mornings…with afternoon cloudiness and just a few showers as the island atmosphere remains stable and dry.

Looking Ahead: Models show the stalled front will serve as a focal point for weak lows to develop and move northeast next week. In turn, prompting the long lasting frontal band to shift southeast, increasing rain chances over a greater portion of the island chain. These passing lows will also tighten the pressure gradient, leading to periods of gusty southwest kona winds. This may help to ventilate the vog away from the western islands…as the plume gets directed away towards the north.

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: Winds should stay below the Small Craft Advisory threshold through the week. A lowering east-northeast swell will persist into Saturday. A moderate west-northwest swell is expected Friday evening, and will peak Saturday morning. This swell will likely produce near advisory level surf for the north and west facing shores Saturday. Small south swells will continue through the week.

World-wide Tropical Cyclone activity

Here’s the latest Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) Weather Wall Presentation covering Tropical Cyclone 03W (Jelawat)…along with a tropical disturbance offshore from the Queensland coast of 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 03W (Jelawat)

JTWC textual forecast warning
JTWC graphical track map
NOAA satellite image