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

 

The winds have been off an on blustery here in Kula, Maui, enough so that I’ve been concerned that my power will go out, and if so, I’d be unable to do any additional updating to this website. I’ll be back as soon as possible after the power returns…if that happens.

 

>>> Be safe everyone, and if you can, stay home and off the wet roads here in Hawaii…makes sense right?!

 

Lala remains a Category 1 Hurricane…more information down the page from here

 

The latest update to this website was at 638pm Saturday evening HST


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

3.55  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
2.24  Waipio, Oahu
5.58  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.07  Lanai City, Lanai
16.64  Waikamoi Treeline, Maui
17.82  Laupahoehoe, Big Island!


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

36  Lihue, Kauai – NE 
70  Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – E 
49  Makapulapai, Molokai – ENE
m   Lanai – m
58  Kealaloloa, Maui – NE
75  Ala Kahua, 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 (out of operation). 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 cyclone 01C (Lala) just southwest of the Big Island 

 

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Counter-clockwise rotating clouds associated with
Tropical Cyclone Lala are moving by slowly just to the south of Hawaii 

 

time of arrival graphic

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Localized showers…many are 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 Saturday comments:  I’m at home here in upper Kula, Maui, Hawaii

203am, it’s cloudy with off an on showers, some are heavy here in upper Kula with strong and gusty winds, meanwhile, the temperature at my place is a relatively warm 66 degrees…with the relative humidity 81%

436am, it continues to be windy and wet here in upper Kula , and fortunately the power is still on.

534am, blustery and wet here in upper Kula

836am, no change here, raining and very windy, although some sunshine…and a rainbow!

1055am, a slight break in the action here at my weather tower, the winds and rains have backed off very temporarily I’m sure.

1208pm, We’re definitely having a break in the action, although it continues to sprinkle…with the winds way down from what they were!

103pm, cloudy, and lightly raining, with a light to moderate breeze, what a change from last night and this morning. It was very lightly raining a bit ago, so I put my raincoat on, and headed out to stretch my legs…about half through my walk the rain started to come down moderately heavy, so my shoes and pants got wet. I enjoyed my little adventure and it was good to get outside.

233pm, much lighter rainfall, although it’s still coming down, while the winds are light to moderate, in general, the conditions have mellowed out considerably here in upper Kula.

418pm, I can hear the winds raging up the mountain from here, although here in upper Kula the winds have eased way back. Likely the reason is that the north to northeasterly winds from earlier, when we were getting blasted, have shifted more easterly, thank goodness.

 

>>> I would highly recommend keeping all your devices charged up, as we could very easily have power outages!

>>> I made lots of ice in my freezer, to use to keep my refrigerated food from going bad, if the power goes out!

 

Hawaii’s Weather Highlights…as of Saturday evening: Hurricane Lala has moved past the southern tip of the Big Island, and will continue moving west-northwest (to the south of the other islands) through Sunday evening. High winds, potentially flooding rains, and high surf impacts will be felt statewide. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Big Island and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the rest of the state. Wet trade wind weather will begin Monday and extend through next week.

Weather Narrative..as of Saturday evening: The main forecast concern through late Sunday will be impacts from Tropical Storm Lala. As of 5pm, Hurricane Lala was located about 30 miles southwest of South Point moving northwest around 9 mph. The center of the eye did not cross over land, so there is no official “landfall” for this hurricane.

The center of rotation can be seen by radar as it drifts off the southwest coast of the Big Island. Based on the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, Lala is expected to move west-northwest, with the center of circulation remaining south of the smaller islands. Remember impacts can occur well outside the center of the storm.

Please stay up to date on the latest forecasts, and prepare for the impacts described below.

STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS…Damaging tropical storm force winds (39 mph to 73 mph) continue across the Big Island and Maui County, Oahu, and should begin in Kauai tonight. A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for the Big Island and surrounding waters. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the rest of the state and surrounding waters. Localized areas damaging winds have been observed over and downwind of the mountainous terrain, even well away from the tropical cyclone center. These localized strong winds and gusts will also be felt in advance of the arrival of Lala and should be kept in mind as last minute preparations are being made. Winds over 100 mph have been observed on the summits of the Big Island and Maui, and travel is strongly discouraged.

HEAVY RAINFALL…Heavy rainfall is ongoing on the Big Island and Maui County, and will spread to Oahu and Kauai this evening and last into Sunday. Orographic (mountain) enhancement will result in locally higher rainfall totals where moist tropical flow interacts with island terrain. Flash flooding and rapidly rising streams have been observed and will will remain possible. The location of heaviest rain so far has been over windward portions of the Big Island and Maui. The latest forecast for windward portion of the Big Island has an additional 6 to 10 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts. Rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches are possible on windward Maui and up 8 inches of rainfall could occur across the remainder of the island chain, again with localized higher amounts. While the highest rainfall amounts will be focused over windward areas, leeward areas will also have a significant flood risk. Heavy rain could persist into Monday for some areas. A Flood Watch remains in effect for all islands.

LARGE AND ROUGH SURF…Lala has generated a large easterly swell that is bringing large surf to exposed east and southeast facing shores. A High Surf Warning remains in effect for east facing shores of Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Oahu, and a High Surf Advisory is posted for east facing shores of Kauai. Very large and extremely rough seas will produce damaging surf, significant beach erosion, and overwash across vulnerable coastal infrastructure, mainly on the Big Island of Hawaii. Highest storm surge up to 3 feet is forecast for the eastern side of the Big Island.

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…1 to 3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast, 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.

 

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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 Saturday evening: Hurricane Lala will pass over or just south of the Big Island with hurricane conditions expected around the Big Island for which a Hurricane Warning is in effect through tonight. Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for Maui County and surrounding waters through this time and are in effect until 6pm Sunday for the nearshore waters of Kauai and Oahu. Trades return on Monday.

High Surf Warnings remain in effect for all E facing shores except Kauai where an advisory remains in effect. Surf rapidly declines tonight for the eastern end of the state but will take through Sunday to fall below the advisory threshold for the smaller islands. The High Surf Advisory for Kauai may require an extension into Sunday.

Choppy conditions for N shores as short period swell wraps from the east through the weekend. For S shores, surf remains below the advisory threshold but will receive a small boost as short period swell associated with Lala works through the area. Long period energy from a distant Southern Ocean swell maintains S shore surf Sunday into Monday.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 112 degrees at Death Valley, CA


>>> Lowest Temperature Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 32 degrees near Old Station, CA

 

Wet weather, winds push through islands Monday


World-wide Tropical Cyclone Activity

 


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



>>> Atlantic Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

>>> Caribbean Sea: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

>>> Gulf of America: There are no active tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.

 

Northeast Pacific: 

Post-Tropical Cyclone 08E (Hernan)…is located 1760 west of the southern tip of Baja California – Last Advisory

HERNAN HAS BECOME A REMNANT LOW

According to the NHC advisory number 12…

The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the west near 12 mph and this general motion is expected to continue through the next few days. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph with higher gusts. Slow weakening is forecast to occur over the next couple of days before dissipation occurs on Tuesday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb (29.80 inches).

 

>>> South of Mexico:

An area of low pressure could form several hundred miles south of the coast of southern Mexico around the middle portion of next week. Some gradual development of this system is possible thereafter while the system moves west-northwestward well south of Mexico.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…30 percent

 

>>> Western portion of the eastern Pacific:

An area of low pressure is expected form well to the west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula early next week. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the middle to latter portions of next week while it moves generally westward across the western portion of the east Pacific.

* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…50 percent

 

Central North Pacific: 

Tropical Cyclone 01C (Lala)…is located about 30 miles southwest of South Point, Hawaii

LALA’S EYEWALL BRUSHING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE BIG ISLAND …DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE BIG ISLAND THROUGH TONIGHT AND SPREAD WESTWARD ACROSS THE SMALLER ISLANDS ON SUNDAY

According to the NHC advisory number 15…

Lala is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. Some erratic motion remains possible into tonight while Lala interacts with the Big Island of Hawaii. After passing the Big Island, Lala is expected to turn westward on Sunday with an increase in forward speed, as the core of the storm remains south of the smaller Hawaiian Islands, and the easternmost Northwestern Hawaiian Islands through the early part of next week. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph with higher gusts. The intensity of Lala is forecast to remain steady over the next few hours as the hurricane remains near South Point of the Big Island. Thereafter, steady weakening is expected later tonight into Sunday as Lala passes south of the smaller main Hawaiian Islands. Some restrengthening is possible early next week. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 985 mb (29.09 inches).

 

>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones

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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

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



Interesting: Amid Drought, Hundreds of French Rivers Are Drying Up

An ongoing drought in Europe has sapped French rivers. Officials say that 43 percent of small waterways in France have been partially or completely dried up.

Of the more than 3,000 small waterways in France, 1,373 have seen their flow interrupted or halted, according to an analysis from the French Office for Biodiversity. The agency said rivers were desiccated in every region, describing the drying as “the most critical situation ever observed at this time of year.”

Large waterways have also been hard hit. On the Loire River, water levels typically drop in the summer, inhibiting boat travel, but this year sightseeing boats had to suspend operations a month earlier than usual as the river dried up. In Paris, the Seine is being sustained by flows released from reservoirs that stored up surplus water over the winter.

Read More: Yale University