The latest update to this website was at 921pm Friday (HST)

 

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

4.81  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
6.92  Moanalua RG, Oahu
0.68  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.00  Lanai
2.65  West Wailuaiki, Maui
1.33  Glenwood, Big Island

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Friday evening:

18  Nawiliwili, Kauai – E
28  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – ESE
28  Makapulapai, Molokai – ESE
23  Lanai 1,  Lanai – NE
24  Kahului AP, Maui – NE
22  Upolu AP, Big Island – ENE

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

 

https://weather.gc.ca/data/satellite/goes_gwdisk11_1070_100.jpg

Big Blue…click twice for largest version

 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/SECTOR/tpw/13/GOES18-TPW-13-900x540.gif

 A low pressure tr0ugh west…thunderstorms in the area

 

https://www.weather.gov/images/hfo/satellite/Hawaii_IR_loop.gif

Low, middle, and high level clouds…as well as some thunderstorms near or over parts of the state 

 

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/HAWAII_loop.gif

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/PHKI_loop.gif

https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/PHKM_loop.gif

  Showers locally…many are heavy

 

https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/png/hfo.png

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

Flood Watch through late tonight for Kauai East-Kauai Mountains- Kauai North-Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Niihau.

 

High Surf Advisory until 6am Saturday for Big Island East- Big Island North-Big Island Southeast-East Honolulu-Kauai East- Kauai South-Kipahulu-Koolau Windward-Maui Windward West-Molokai Southeast-Molokai Windward-Olomana-Windward Haleakala.

 

Small Craft Advisory until 6am Saturday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Windward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Kauai Channel- Kauai Windward Waters-Maui County Windward Waters-Oahu Windward Waters-Pailolo Channel.



~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

Glenn’s Aloha Friday comments:  I’m here at home in upper Kula, Maui

It’s clear with a few clouds early this morning here at my place, with calm winds, and a chilly low temperature of 48 degrees , and the relative humidity is 80%.

1121am, variable clouds over Maui County, with radar showing showers falling along the windward sides.

330pm, there’s moisture falling in Makawao and Haiku and on out towards Hana here on Maui. Here in upper Kula we’ve got some dark clouds overhead which seem to be moisture laden, although nothing falling from them yet.

6pm, we have a very interesting sky cover as we head towards sunset, with a variety of low, medium and higher level clouds. Here at my place in upper Kula we had a very brief light shower, otherwise it’s been dry. This is in contrast to the wet conditions along the windward sides.

915pm, it’s cleared up here on Maui for the moment, and with the clear skies, and with the slim moon shining down, the temperature here at my place has dropped to 52.5 degrees.

 

Weather Wit of the day:  Do you know the difference between a minor snowstorm and a major snowstorm? In a minor storm you can’t get to work…In a major storm you can’t get to a party.

 

Interesting weather blog: Mauka Showers…Aerial vs. Satellite Views – What Clouds in Satellite Images Look Like from a Plane

 

From the NWS in Honolulu:

An unusually large, long period north-northeast swell will build Monday, peak Tuesday, and decline Wednesday. This swell is expected to produce large waves in excess of High Surf Warning thresholds across north and east facing shores, along with the potential for overwash on some low-lying coastal roads and infrastructure in windward areas. Due to the direction of the swell, waves may reach High Surf Advisory thresholds along West Maui and portions of the North Kona and South Kohala Districts of the Big Island. Due to the swell direction from approximately 020 degrees, hazardous conditions and heavy surges are expected at north facing harbors.

In the short term, the extended period of strong trade winds will end tonight, bringing chances for heavy rain and thunderstorms and a flood threat to some areas.

A Flood Watch is in effect for Kauai County through 6am Saturday. As the flood risk diminishes on Kauai, a period of heavy showers and thunderstorms will spread eastward over the rest of the island chain late tonight and Saturday. While confidence is not high enough to expand the Flood Watch to additional islands, there will be a period of heavy rainfall with some flood risk.

The risk of flooding will diminish on Sunday. Expect light and variable winds to generate isolated afternoon downpours and thunderstorms.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Friday, February 20, 2026 – 97 near Hidalgo, TX
>>> Lowest Temperature Friday, February 20, 2026 – minus 26 near Mackay, Idaho

 

Hawaii’s Broad Brush Weather Overview…as of 915pm Friday:  Breezy trades will continue for a little while, but will gradually ease Saturday. As a disturbance moves overhead, expect increasing chances for heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms over the western end of the state, and the wet weather will continue into the weekend. Strengthening trades early next week will return a more typical windward and mountain focused shower pattern, followed by more stable conditions by mid to late week.

Short Term Update…as of 915pm: Periods of heavy showers are being observed over Kauai and Oahu with 1 to 3 inches of rainfall observed in a three to six hour time period over portions of the Koolau Mountains on Oahu. A combination of a passing upper level trough will continue to set the stage for an unstable atmosphere lingering into Saturday morning. This large scale instability will be enhanced by low level convergence bands, with the threat for flash flooding into the morning hours.

Hawaii’s Weather Details…as of 404pm Friday:  Satellite imagery is showing a trough approaching the state from the west, which should help produce showers and isolated thunderstorms over the western half of the state tonight. A Flood Watch remains in effect for Kauai and Niihau through tonight, and the latest models agree with the heaviest rainfall rates occurring during the evening and overnight hours. Unstable and showery conditions should persist on Saturday, but the greatest flooding risk should be tonight as the upper trough swings through Kauai.

Over on Oahu, showers training along the Koolau Range. Low level winds have weakened and veered toward the east-southeast and we are seeing a plume of moisture drifting towards Oahu from Molokai. Training showers will likely continue along the Koolau range through this evening, which will lead to rises along the streams and some minor flooding possible along low lying areas. For the most part, rainfall rates have been holding in the 0.50 to 1 inch per hour rate, but rainfall rates could increase this evening, as instability increases from the approaching upper level trough.

The upper level trough should bring an increase of showers and isolated thunderstorms late tonight into Saturday for Oahu. For rest of the state, showers should be on the increase Saturday, with windward areas likely seeing the greatest shower coverage. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible, but if any thunderstorms do form, they will likely be brief and isolated. Some localized flooding impacts will be possible, especially windward areas. The summits of the Big Island could also see some snow showers Saturday afternoon, which may prompt a Winter Weather Advisory.

By Sunday, the main moisture axis should lift off to our north, and while conditions aloft will still be unstable, we will lack the moisture on Sunday. So overall Sunday should start off fairly nice, with sea breezes developing during the day. Sea breezes should allow for some afternoon clouds and showers over interior and mountain areas. Any showers that do develop could be heavier than usual due to the instability aloft.

Beyond the weekend, model guidance suggests the main band of moisture staying north of the state through Monday. As high pressure builds north of the state Monday night into Tuesday, this band of moisture will ride in with the returning trade winds Tuesday into Tuesday night. By the second half of next week, mid-level ridging is expected to build overhead, supporting a more stable pattern with moderate to breezy trade winds.

 

Here’s a near real-time Wind Profile of the Pacific Ocean – Zoom Earth – along with a Closer View of the islands / Vog map animation / 8-Day Precipitation model

https://www.weather.gov/images/hfo/graphics/npac.gif 



 


Hawaii’s Marine Environment…as of 356am Friday:  Strong trades will persist, then begin to ease over the weekend as a gale nearby to the northwest lifts north-northwestward and away from the region. Winds may become light enough for a localized land and sea breeze regime to become established over the weekend. Seas will respond by gradually lowering, likely falling below the Small Craft Advisory level by Saturday. In addition to the winds and seas, expect a wet pattern with isolated thunderstorms to develop by tonight as an upper disturbance moves over the state.


Surf along exposed east-facing shores will remain rough, with heights hovering around advisory levels. A downward trend will follow over the weekend as winds diminish locally and upstream of the state.


Surf along exposed north- and east-facing shores will quickly build through the day Monday, as a long-period north-northeast swell from a broad storm-force low evolves off the northwest Pacific coast this weekend. A large area of northerly gales between this system and a 1048 millibar blocking high centered over the Aleutians, will expand southward Friday through the weekend, with the head of the fetch reaching less than 1,000 nautical miles from the state.


Heights will reach warning levels for exposed north- and east-facing shores by late Monday through Tuesday. Although a gradual downward trend is anticipated by mid-week, additional pulses from this same system will keep surf above advisory levels for east-facing shores through much of the week. This swell direction will bring surf into some typically protected areas such as Kua Bay, West Maui, and exposed shores of Lanai.


Other impacts from this north-northeast swell direction could include significant erosion along some coasts and accretion at other locations, as sand shifts opposite the typical swell direction, particularly along north-facing shores. Additionally, overwash along vulnerable sections of coastline and roadways will be possible beginning Monday night during high tide cycles. Mariners can also anticipate harbor surges in Kahului and Hilo.


Surf along exposed west-facing shores will rise early next week, as a long-period northwest swell arrives from a broad storm-force low currently located over the far northwest Pacific near the Kurils.


 


Severe weather possible across Hawaii this week










World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity


 






Atlantic Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones












Caribbean Sea:  There are no active tropical cyclones












Gulf of America:  There are no active tropical cyclones


 


Northeastern Pacific:   There are no active tropical cyclones


















North Central Pacific: There are no active tropical cyclones


Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)






 








Northwest Pacific Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones






Southwest Pacific Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones


North Indian Ocean:  There are no active tropical cyclones


South Indian Ocean:  


Tropical Cyclone 22S (Horacio) is located approximately 536 NM south-southeast of Diego Garcia


https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/products/sh2226.gif


























Arabian Sea:  There are no active tropical cyclones


 






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


 


>>> Here’s a link to the Pacific Disaster Center’s (PDC Global) Weather Wall website


 


Interesting:  Course Correction Needed Quickly to Avoid Pathway to ‘Hothouse Earth’ Scenario, Scientists Say




Scientists say multiple Earth system components appear closer to destabilization than previously believed, putting the planet at increased risk of a “hothouse” trajectory driven by feedback loops that can amplify the consequences of global warming.


Published today in the journal One Earth, “The risk of a hothouse Earth trajectory” is an analysis by an international collaboration led by Oregon State University’s William Ripple that synthesizes scientific findings on climate feedback loops and 16 tipping elements – Earth subsystems that may undergo loss of stability if critical temperature thresholds are passed.


Those sharp changes could likely result in a cascade of subsystem interactions that would steer the planet toward a path to extreme warming and sea level rise – conditions that could be difficult to reverse on human timescales, even with deep emissions cuts.


Read More at: Oregon State University


Photo of Allan Hills, Antarctica.