Glenn James
Hawaii Weather Today
Creator, Author, and Administrator for 30 years

 

The latest update to this website was at 138pm Wednesday afternoon HST


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

0.31  Hanalei, Kauai
0.23  Hakipuu Mauka, Oahu
0.09  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.02  Lanai 1, Lanai
1.32  West Wailuaiki, Maui
2.33  Spencer, Big Island


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

29  Port Allen, Kauai – E
28  Kuaokala, Oahu – NE
33  Molokai AP, Molokai – ENE 
36  Kealia Pond, Maui – NE 
42  Puuloa, Big Island – NW 


Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of our tallest mountain Mauna Kea (~13,800 feet high) on the Big Island of Hawaii. Here’s the webcam for the (~10,023 feet high) 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.


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Big Blue…click twice for largest version

 

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Tropical systems remain active in the eastern and central Pacific…including Hurricane Odalys and Category 4 Major Hurricane Polo…along with Tropical Storm Nolo nearing Hawaii


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Variable low clouds and high clouds are present over the island chain…thunderstorms south 

 

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Localized Showers…some heavy

 

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Please open this link to see details on any current Watches, Warnings and Advisories noted above




~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

Glenn’s Wednesday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

453am, it’s mostly clear with some high cirrus clouds here at my place, with the low temperature 59.5 degrees, relative humidity is 83%…with calm winds

 

>>> This very well advertised former TC 15E has finally made the grade and has become Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nola)!

At this point, our hope is that this TC will not directly impact the island chain. The latest NHC information suggests that there will be a sharp westward turn while the cyclone is close to the Big Island. However, it’s impossible to know exactly when that turn will happen. As has been the case, it’s not surprising that there’s still a large north-south spread in the model guidance.

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Interests here in the Hawaiian Islands, and especially on the Big Island, should closely monitor the system, with life threatening catastrophic flooding possible over the steep terrain on the current track.


Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Wednesday afternoon: Trade winds will gradually strengthen statewide, and rainfall across Big Island will increase over the next couple of days as Tropical Storm Nolo intensifies south of the Big Island. The system is forecast to move near the Big Island Friday and Saturday as a hurricane, bringing potentially damaging winds and heavy flooding rainfall. A Hurricane Watch is now in effect for the Big Island and surrounding waters.

While uncertainty in the track of the hurricane is higher than normal, the latest forecast calls for system to move westward late Saturday and Sunday, keeping some threat for significant impacts through the weekend. Interests across the State of Hawaii should monitor the progress of Nolo.

Short Term Update: TS Nolo continues to become better organized, and is currently centered roughly 300 miles to the south of the Big Island. The official track has it moving generally north toward the Big Island tonight through Friday night, then turning generally west early Saturday morning through Sunday night. There is still a great deal of uncertainty in the track. It is strongly suggested that folks stay up to date with the latest forecasts of this evolving storm. Concerning potential strengthening, NHC has it becoming a Category 3 (major) hurricane by Saturday morning near its closest approach to the Big Island. Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast.

Weather Narrative…as of Wednesday afternoon: As expected, Tropical Storm 15E re-developed overnight just over 400 miles south-southeast of Hilo. Across the islands, moderate trade winds have prevailed. Moisture along the far northern periphery of the depression produced roughly a quarter to one half of an inch of rainfall across windward Big Island overnight, while windward portions of the Kau District experienced little rainfall. Across the rest of the state, modest shower activity was confined to windward slopes, while leeward areas stayed mostly dry.

The latest NHC forecast calls for 15E to steadily intensify as Tropical Storm Nolo as it moves westward today, then turns sharply northward tonight and Thursday. Expect gradually strengthening trade winds to supply a steady increase in moisture for mainly windward Big Island and Maui during this time, and a Flood Watch is in effect for these areas. Rain rates are not expected to be excessive during the next day, but steadily accumulating rainfall could lead to some flooding over windward and southeast Big Island and Maui. Across the rest of the state, breezy trades should continue to produce moderate rainfall across mainly windward slopes.

Significant impacts could develop as early as Friday and continue into the weekend. 15E is expected to be at hurricane strength during this time, and the National Hurricane Center track contains more uncertainty than normal. The forecast hurricane could bring damaging winds to Big Island sometime late Friday through Saturday, and with the slow-moving system passing near or possibly over the Big Island, extreme rainfall is becoming increasingly likely, especially over windward and southeast slopes, where in excess of 20 inches may produce widespread flooding.

Significant rainfall will be possible over windward Maui County as well, and it will only take a slight deviation in the forecast track to bring flooding to other islands. As mentioned, damaging winds will be possible on Big Island, and other islands could experience localized strong winds, depending on the eventual track of the hurricane.

The hurricane is expected to move westward Sunday, but given the high uncertainty in the official forecast track, impacts may persist through the weekend for some areas. More typical trade wind weather is expected early next week.

Fire Weather:  Breezy trades will return by this afternoon and steadily strengthen over the next several days. With winds strengthening, moderate fire weather conditions will be possible this week mainly over drier leeward areas. The inversion will remain weak and elevated today, and will be eliminated by tonight as deeper moisture moves over the Big Island.

 

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Here’s a near real-time Wind Profile of the Pacific Ocean – along with a Closer View of the islands / Here’s the latest Weather Map / Looping Surface Precipitation…through the next 8-days / Vog Map

 

Marine Conditions…as of Wednesday afternoon: The gradient between the subtropical high to the northeast, and Tropical Depression 15E to the south-southeast, will cause moderate to fresh trade winds across the Hawaiian coastal waters. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is in effect for the typical windy waters of Maui County and the Big Island through Friday morning. Tropical storm and/or hurricane watches and warnings may come into play Thursday through the weekend. Rainfall and thunderstorms will increase as the system nears, particularly across the eastern waters.

Surf along south facing shores will decrease as the current south-southwest swell fades. A moderate southwest swell will build in around Friday into the weekend, building surf back up across south and west facing shores nearing high surf advisory criteria. Tropical Depression 15E is expected to intensify to a hurricane over the next couple of days, and will likely produce very large and rough surf along south facing shores on the Big Island.

A small, short period, north-northwest swell will fade. Another small northwest swell will fill in this weekend keeping surf slightly elevated along north and west facing shores.

East facing shores will maintain rough, short period wind waves generated from the breezy trade winds.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – 104 degrees near La Puerta, Texas


>>> Lowest Temperature Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – 20 degrees near Big Bay, MI

 

Discover the Endless Beauty of Hawaii Landscape Photography


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 



>>> Here’s a link to the latest Pacific Disaster Center’s Weather Wall




Atlantic Ocean: 

Tropical cyclone (Fay) is located about 885 miles southwest of the Azores

LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM RE-DEVELOPS INTO TROPICAL DEPRESSION FAY

According to the NHC advisory number 15

The depression is moving toward the west near 8 mph and this general motion is expected to continue for the next several days. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible during the next couple of days, but gradual weakening should occur thereafter. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1011 mb (29.86 inches).

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>>> Far Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

Invest 90L

An area of low pressure located a couple of hundred miles southwest off the coast of western Africa is gradually becoming better defined, and the associated shower and thunderstorm activity has increased since yesterday. This system could become a short-lived tropical depression on Thursday or Friday while it moves northwestward to northward. However, strong upper-level winds should end the opportunity for development by the weekend. Interests in the Cabo Verde Islands should monitor the progress of this system as gusty winds, areas of heavy rain and flash flooding is possible there by Friday.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…medium…50 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…50 percent

 

Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific:

Tropical cyclone 16E (Odalys) is located about 1345 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California

 

ODALYS STRENGTHENS AS IT MOVES EASTWARD

According to the NHC advisory number 15

Odalys is moving toward the east near 7 mph. An eastward to east-northeastward motion at a slightly slower speed is expected for the next couple of days, followed by a gradual turn toward the northeast then north later this week. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected during the next day or two, followed by a weakening trend late this week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 984 mb (29.06 inches).

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Tropical cyclone 17E (Polo) is located about 260 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico

POLO NOW MOVING FASTER TOWARD THE NORTHWEST …OUTER RAINBANDS CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE COAST OF MEXICO

According to the NHC advisory number 13

Polo is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph, and this motion is expected to continue through Thursday. A general west-northwestward motion is forecast on Friday and over the weekend. On the forecast track, the core of Polo is expected to be near the coast of southwestern Mexico through Thursday morning before it moves farther out to sea. Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Polo is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Slow strengthening is possible during the next day or so. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 932 mb (27.53 inches).

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>>> South of the Gulf of Tehuantepec:

An area of low pressure is expected to form in a couple of days to the south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Afterwards, environmental conditions should be favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression is likely to form over the weekend or early next week as the system moves slowly west-northwestward to northwestward, parallel to the coast of southern and southwestern Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…80 percent

 

Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nolo) is located about 310 south of South Point, Hawaii

TROPICAL STORM NOLO FORMS…HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED FOR HAWAII COUNTY

According to the NHC advisory number 13 

Nolo is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 mph, and this general motion is expected today. A sharp turn to the north and north-northeast is expected on Thursday, with this motion continuing through the end of the week. On the forecast track, the system is expected to approach the Big Island of Hawaii on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph with higher gusts. Nolo is forecast to become a hurricane on Thursday and could become a major hurricane by the weekend. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND WIND:

WIND: Hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area starting as early as late Friday.

RAINFALL: Tropical Storm Nolo will produce rainfall totals of 15 to 20 inches across the Big Island with maximum amounts of 35 inches. This rainfall may produce catastrophic life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with maximum amounts of 20 inches expected across Maui. Life-threatening flooding and mudslides possible across Maui, especially in areas of high terrain, Across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands, rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches with maximum amounts of 6 inches are expected with isolated flooding possible.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

Hawaii County…1 to 3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.

SURF: Swells generated by Nolo are expected to reach the east and south-facing shores of the Big Island on Friday, spreading westward and building through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 728 NM southeast of Kadena AB

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Southwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea:

Tropical Cyclone 01B…is located approximately 391 NM southwest of Kolkata, India

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



Interesting:  Bike-Sharing Can Make Big Dent in Tailpipe Emissions?, SFU Study Finds

A new study found more than half of the city’s bike-share trips replace car trips, with each bike reducing annual CO? emissions by up 120 kilograms (kg) per year. Researchers say that number jumps to nearly 400 kg if those same bikes were used more times per day.

“We calculated each bike in Vancouver’s fleet makes almost two and half trips per day. In terms of emissions impact, it takes 18 bikes to remove tailpipe emissions from one gas-powered car,” says Vahid Hosseini, lead author of the study and a professor in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering.

“That’s pretty good, but if those bikes were used eight times a day, it would only take five bikes for every one fossil fuel car and reduce tailpipe emissions by more than three per cent—all without adding a single bike-share station or bike to the fleet.”

Read More: Simon Fraser University