Glenn James
Hawaii Weather Today
Founder and maintainer for 30 years 

 

The latest update to this website was at 1207pm Saturday (HST)

 

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

0.64  Kilohana , Kauai
0.55  Tunnel RG, Oahu
3.78  Puu Alii, Molokai
0.26  Lanai City, Lsnai
7.24  West Wailuaiki, Maui
1.31  Waiaha Stream, Big Island

The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Saturday afternoon:

29  Lihue, Kauai – NE
39  Kuaokala, Oahu – NNE 
27  Anapuka, Molokai – NW
30  Lanai 1,  Lanai – NE
40  Kealaloloa Rg, Maui – NNE
32  Kona AP, Big Island – NE

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

Thunderstorms well southwest…a cold front far northwest

 

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

Low clouds arriving along the windward sides…on the gusty trade winds / high level clouds moving by south of the state with some moving into the state from the west

 

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 

 

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

~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~

 

Glenn’s Saturday comments:  I’m here in Corte Madera, Marin County, California

445am, I’m here at my friend Linda’s after a long day out in the public yesterday, flying between Maui and northern California. It’s clear and cool here, with a chilly 42 degree low where I am.

1152am, obviously I can’t tell you about how the weather is there in the islands, I mean first hand, like I do when I’m home in upper Kula. So, I’ll have to let you know how it is here in Marin County, which is sunny with high clouds, and the temperature here at my friend Linda’s house is a very warm 79.7 degrees. I must say that it’s really nice being here in California, even though of course I love Maui too.

 

>>> Highest Temperature Friday, March 27, 2026 – 105 degrees at Octotillo Wells, CA
>>> Lowest Temperature Saturday, March 28, 2026 – minus 8 degrees at Mount Washington, NH

 

I’ve become aware that we may be having what’s called a Super El Nino later this year. Records show that this phenomenon occurs typically every 10-15 years. The strongest El Nino’s we’ve had in the recent past were in 1982, 1997-98 and 2015-16.

My weather mentor, Dr. Daniel Swain, a climate  scientist with the University of California, is being quoted as saying: “The vast majority of [the models], almost all, suggest at least a moderate strength El Niño by later this coming summer, and the majority really do go all the way into strong or extreme territory.”

Pulled from the State of the Climate report, here are some of the loudest echoes of the 2015 El Niño:

Record-smashing hurricane season in the central North Pacific

Sixteen tropical cyclones formed in or passed through the unusually warm central Pacific hurricane basin in 2015. That’s more than 3 times the 1981–2010 average of 4.7 cyclones per season, and 4 more than the previous record of 12, set in 1992 (also an El Niño year). In late August, the basin sustained three Category 4 hurricanes at the same time, which was a first, not just for the central Pacific basin, but for any basin during the modern record.

Here’s a satellite picture of what was going on in our Central Pacific during the summer of 2015

p.s. One more thing that Dr. Swain said yesterday, was that the extreme heat spell in the western United States over the past week or more, could easily become the new normal with time.

 

Interesting website: Mauka Showers…Double Trouble – Second Storm Produces Massive Flooding Problems in Hawaii



Hawaii’s Broad Brush Weather Overview…as of 910am Saturday: Moderate to locally breezy north-northeast to northeast trade winds will strengthen this afternoon and evening, and become gusty over leeward areas. A weakening trough passing through the state this morning produced scattered showers over windward and mountain areas with brief downpours.

A drier airmass will filter over the western half of the state this afternoon, while showery conditions could persist over the windward areas of the eastern half of the state through tonight. Drier, cooler air will fill in state wide by Sunday, with scattered showers returning at the start of the work week.

Weather Details for the Hawaiian Islands…as of 403am Saturday: This morning’s satellite imagery shows a weak trough making its way through the state from the north, which is producing scattered showers across most windward areas of the state, with frequent showers over the windward areas of Maui.

For the day today, we should see scattered showers persist over windward and mountain areas throughout the morning, with a gradual decrease of shower coverage throughout the day, especially over the western half of the state as a drier air mass moves in behind the passing trough this morning. Over the eastern half of the state, showers will likely persist through much of the day, with a gradual decrease expected over Maui later this afternoon and over the Big Island later tonight.

High pressure building far north of the state should gradually strengthen our north-northeast to northeast trade winds this afternoon and evening, with gusty winds expected over leeward areas. Atmospheric soundings from Lihue and Hilo show the inversion at roughly 6,000-7,000 feet. But as the drier airmass fills in this afternoon, we should see the inversion lower and the combination of the strengthening trade winds and lowering inversion, should allow for wind gusts of 40 mph over select leeward areas.

While the latest models show decent probabilities of 40 mph winds over leeward areas this evening and tonight, the probabilities of 50 mph winds were very low. Thus, a Wind Advisory hasn’t been issued for leeward areas for the time being. Winds will be closely monitored throughout the day today to see if winds reach Wind Advisory thresholds.

Sunday looks to be a windy, but fair weather day with mostly dry conditions. Some scattered showers will be possible over windward Big Island especially in the morning hours.

For the first half of next week, a cold upper level low will develop northeast of the state. While temperatures aloft will be cold and unstable, we will continue to remain on the dry side of the upper level low. While heavy showers are not expected, we should see scattered showers moving in with the trade winds, especially over windward and mountain areas. Trade winds will gradually decrease throughout the first half of next week, as the high weakens to our north. Trade winds should lower to moderate speeds towards the second half of next week.

 

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 4am Saturday: A gale force low northeast of the islands will interact with high pressure building in from the northwest, to strengthen the northeasterly trade winds to fresh to strong speeds. The current Small Craft Advisory (SCA) covering the leeward waters and channels around the smaller islands will expand to encompass the waters around the Big Island, as the stronger winds progress down the island chain.

The SCA has been extended through Sunday evening, but will likely need to be expanded to all coastal marine zones on Sunday as high seas generated by the gale force low begin to move into the area. SCA conditions will likely continue at least through the first half of the upcoming week, for at least some portion of the coastal waters.

Surf will decrease slightly along north-facing shores, as a small, medium-period northwest swell fades. A short-period northeast swell will continue to bring slightly below average surf to east-facing shores, though as trade winds strengthen, surf heights will build slightly along east-facing shores.

Another small bump in the northwest swell arriving Sunday night, will be overshadowed by a much larger medium-period, north-northeast swell on Sunday. Surf will quickly build through the day for north- and east-facing shores. High Surf Advisory (HSA) conditions appear likely to develop sometime on Sunday, with the swell peaking late Sunday and holding through Monday, before fading gradually through the rest of the week. HSA conditions may also be possible for west-facing shores of the Big Island, particularly near Kua Bay, as the north-northeasterly swell works in through the gap between Maui and the Big Island. Some shores of West Maui will also see elevated surf from this swell, but it is not currently expected to meet HSA criteria.

Along south-facing shores, small background pulses will keep surf heights above flat conditions through early next week, with a slight bump possible as one of these pulses arrives today.

 

Hawaii Palms on the island of Kauai Photograph by Donnie Whitaker - Fine Art America



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:  There are no active tropical cyclones

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:  Earthquake Scientists Reveal How Overplowing Weakens Soil at Experimental Farm

Plowing, or tilling, is an age-old agricultural practice that readies the soil for planting by turning over the top layer to expose fresh earth. The method — intended to improve water and nutrient circulation — remains popular today, but concerns about soil degradation have prompted some to return to regenerative methods that disturb the soil less.

In a new study, a team led by University of Washington researchers examined the impact of tilling on soil moisture and water retention using methods originally designed for monitoring earthquakes. Researchers placed fiber optic cables alongside fields at an experimental farm in the United Kingdom and recorded ground motion from plots receiving different amounts of tillage and compaction from tractor tires pulling farm equipment.

The study, published March 19 in Science, shows that tilling and compaction disrupt intricate capillary networks within the soil that give it a natural sponge-like quality.

“This study offers a clear explanation for why the process of tillage, one of humanity’s oldest agricultural activities, changes the structure of soil in ways that affect how it soaks up water,” said co-author David Montgomery, a UW professor of Earth and space sciences.

Read More: University of Washington

Image: A plot of experimental land at Joe Collins’ Field near Harper Adams University, where University of Washington researchers traveled to collaborate on an agroseismology experiment examining the impact of tilling on soil moisture.