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

 

The latest update to this website was at 505pm Monday evening HST


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

0.66  N Wailua Ditch, Kauai
0.15  Punaluu Stream, Oahu
0.01  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
0.08  Puu Kukui, Maui
0.73  Honaunau, Big Island


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

32  Port Allen, Kauai – ENE
32  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ENE 
35  Makpulapai, Molokai – ESE
39  Na Kula, Maui – ENE
28  South Point, Big Island – NE


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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  Category 3 Hurricane Nolo west-southwest of Hawaii…with continued tropical cyclone activity near Mexico


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Variable clouds are present over the island chain 

 

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Localized Showers 

 

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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 Monday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

540am, it’s totally clear here at my place, with the low temperature 56 degrees, relative humidity is 77%…with near calm conditions

911am, it’s just about as cloudless as it ever gets here in Maui County!

110pm, mostly sunny with a few puffy cumulus clouds here and there…dry as a bone here on Maui.

342pm, the almost totally clear skies continue, it’s a very dry day here in paradise.

 

Well, very long-lasting Tropical Cyclone Nolo has passed us by, although not by much, and is still a very potent hurricane to the southwest of Hawaii. Its intensity is still impressive, as it clocks in with sustained 125 mph winds, this qualifies as a major Category 3 Hurricane!

Nolo is topping out in strength now and will begin to wind down tonight, although the models suggest that there could be some re-strengthening later this week…however by then it will be far away from Hawaii. There was some worry that Nolo could come close to Kauai around mid-week, although that has become unlikely at this point.

Interestingly enough, the models are suggesting that we might see the approach of our first cold front of the season, which may approach Kauai early next week. It’s very early for such an occurrence, although we’ll take a cold front over a Category 4 hurricane any day of the week!


Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Monday evening: Breezy east-southeast winds with a drier airmass will limit clouds and showers through today. Clouds and showers will increase Tuesday through Thursday, as Nolo passes to the west, with rain bands along the south and east side of the storm…encroaching Kauai and Oahu. Nolo moves away to the northwest by the weekend with trades filling in.

Weather Narrative…as of Monday evening: Breezy east-southeast winds with a drier airmass will limit clouds and showers tonight. Major Hurricane Nolo is around 415 miles west-southwest of Honolulu nd has made it`s turn to the northwest. Main impacts in the short-term will be the breezy, but weakening winds across the state, due to the pressure difference between Nolo and the subtropical high far to the northeast, and the southwest swell directed towards Kauai. Nolo will weaken and stall around 250 to 300 miles west of Kauai on Tuesday night and Wednesday, then continue on a more west -northwesterly track away from the state through the second half of the week.

Winds will remain brisk and gradually veer southeasterly as Nolo gains latitude. Rain bands along Nolo`s eastern flank will bring an increase in rainfall across Kauai beginning Tuesday and Oahu by Tuesday night, as the southeasterly flow directs showers over populated areas of both islands. Guidance shows varying amounts and lengths of time that the bands will impact the western end of the state, and will ultimately depend on Nolo`s eventual path over the next few days.

Look for the Tuesday to Thursday period to have 3 to 6 inches of additional rain on Kauai and Niihau, and up to 4 inches on Oahu. It doesn’t look like a Flood Watch at this time will be needed, with the anticipation these rainfall amounts will be spread out over several days, and showers should be moving along quickly.

East-southeasterly winds will continue, but gradually weaken, through the second half of the week as Nolo tracks away. By this weekend, trade winds are forecast to build in bringing drier and more stable conditions again.

Fire Weather:  Dry and stable with breezy east southeast winds expected through through tonight, with a gradual increase in humidity through midweek. Moisture drawn northward along the eastern sides of Nolo will increase rain chances across the western part of the state. Fire conditions will improve statewide over the next couple days as winds weaken and humidity levels rise.

 

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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 Monday evening: Strong trades become moderate to breezy out of the SE tonight in response to Hurricane Nolo advancing northwestward. The exception will be around Kauai where proximity to Nolo will allow for the gradient to remain strong. Near gales will be possible immediately west of Kauai tonight through Wednesday, particularly in the channel between Kauai and Niihau. Here, the Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been extended through Wednesday for both winds and seas. Elsewhere, the SCA remains in place and is still scheduled to expire Tuesday morning.

Moderate easterlies with tiny long period energy out of the south is noted on the Barber`s Point Buoy. This energy represents the initial forerunners of a rather small, long period swell that will maintain elevated surf for south shores through mid-week. This is separate from the more substantial short to medium period fresh swell emanating from Nolo, which has prompted today`s High Surf Advisories (HSA) for south shores and west facing shores of the Big Island.

Uncertainty related to the size of Nolo`s swell coupled with its slow forward motion Tuesday night through Wednesday, will be a theme in the forecast for the next couple of days. The latest observations support expiring the HSA for all but Kauai and Niihau, where the bulk of the SW energy is directed. For Kauai/Niihau in particular, high surf may linger into mid-week, conditional on the exact size of Nolo`s swell. Likewise, as Nolo lifts north, it`s westerly swell influence will increase potentially supporting an HSA for Big Island-West during the middle of this week.

Surf along east shores slowly declines as trades veer to SE and diminish then return as light to moderate easterlies this weekend. A small, long period, south swell originating east of New Zealand is poised to arrive early next week in maintenance of elevated surf along south facing shores. For north facing shores, the existing small, medium period swell fades through Wednesday. Multiple rounds of tiny swell originating out of the NW quadrant will reach north and select west facing exposures next week as the storm track in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands becomes increasingly active.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Monday, September 28, 2026 – 105 degrees at Rio Grande Village, TX


>>> Lowest Temperature Monday, September 28, 2026 – 21 degrees near Little Bitterroot Lake, MT

 

Hawaii Day 9, Part I: Prelude to The Hana Highway | Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog


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 1380 miles west-southwest of the Azores

 

FAY REACHES TROPICAL STORM STRENGTH AGAIN

According to the NHC advisory number 36

Fay is moving toward the southwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A southwest to west-southwest motion, along with an increase in forward speed, is expected to continue over the next couple of days. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next day or so, and Fay is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone in 36 h. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches).

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Tropical cyclone (Hanna) is located about 1010 miles east-northeast of Bermuda

HANNA REMAINS STEADY AS IT CONTINUES EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD

According to the NHC advisory number 3

Hanna is moving toward the east-southeast near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this motion is forecast to continue over the next day or two followed by a turn to the east-northeast. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Small intensity fluctuations are forecast during the next couple of days. Hanna is likely to become a post-tropical cyclone by the latter part of this week. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1002 mb (29.59 inches).

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Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones


Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

Northeast Pacific

Tropical cyclone 17E (Polo) is located about 75 miles north of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico

POLO ABOUT TO MAKE LANDFALL IN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR …LIFE-THREATENING WINDS AND FLASH FLOODING ONGOING

According to the NHC advisory number 34

Polo is moving toward the northeast near 13 mph (20 km/h) and this motion with a gradual acceleration is anticipated through Tuesday. On the forecast track, the core of Polo is expected to make landfall along the coast of Baja California Sur within the next couple of hours, then move inland over southern Sonora Tuesday morning. Maximum sustained winds remain near 115 mph (185 km/h) with higher gusts. Polo is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strength is expected before Polo makes landfall on Baja California Sur. Polo is also expected to be a hurricane when it makes its second landfall in mainland Mexico. Rapid weakening is forecast on Tuesday when Polo moves well inland over mainland Mexico. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 963 mb (28.44 inches).

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Tropical cyclone 18E (Rachel) is located about 260 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico

RACHEL MOVING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD PARALLEL TO THE COAST OF SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO

According to the NHC advisory number 8 

Rachel is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A gradual turn toward the northwest with a slower forward speed is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Rachel is predicted to move parallel to, but stay offshore of, the coast of southwestern Mexico. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Rachel is forecast to become a hurricane during the next day or so. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km) from the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb (29.44 inches).

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Central North Pacific:

Tropical Cyclone 15E (Nolo) is located about 415 miles west-southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii

NOLO STILL A MAJOR HURRICANE…DANGEROUS CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITHIN THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT STARTING ON TUESDAY

According to the NHC advisory number 34

Nolo is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h). A turn toward the north is expected tomorrow. On the forecast track, the center of Nolo will remain well southwest and west of the main Hawaiian Islands. Nolo will approach the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher gusts. Nolo is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Weakening is forecast over the next couple of days, followed by some re-intensification during the latter part of this week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 945 mb (27.91 inches).

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>>> Well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands:

Invest 91E

Showers and thunderstorms are limited and disorganized in association with an area of low pressure located well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Although the system has lost some organization today, it is still expected to become a tropical depression during the next day or two while it drifts northeastward. Environmental conditions are expected to become less conducive for development late this week.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…high…90 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…high…90 percent

 

Northwest Pacific Ocean:

Tropical Cyclone 25W (Surigae)…is located approximately 346 NM southeast of Sasebo, Japan

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Southwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

 

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



Interesting:  Contaminated Soil Poses Hidden Lead Threat Inside Homes

Lead contamination in soil tracked inside homes can cause dangerous indoor lead dust levels even in residences with no interior lead-based paint, according to researchers with the Rutgers Environmental, Occupational and Health Sciences Institute in collaboration with community scientists: members of the general public who participate in data collection under the direction of scientists.

The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, was conducted in the neighborhood of East Trenton, in Trenton, N.J., which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2025 after determining there was lead contamination in soil from 19th-century pottery manufacturing plants.

They found 86% of 242 bare surface soil samples collected exceeded the EPA’s 200 parts per million residential soil lead hazard level and nearly 94% exceeded screening levels for multiple sources of lead exposure. “This is especially concerning because all samples were collected from bare soil at the surface, which is the most likely to be accessed by children or tracked into homes,” said Sean Stratton, a recent Rutgers School of Public Health PhD graduate and lead author of the study.

Read More: Rutgers