Photo credit: James Grenz
Hilo
Today: Mostly cloudy. Lots of showers in the morning, isolated showers in the afternoon. Altitudes 81 to 87 near shore to about 71 at 4000 feet. Southeast wind up to 10 km/h. Chance of rain 70 percent.
This evening: Mostly cloudy with numerous showers. Lows 66 to 73 near shore to about 55 at 4000 feet. Breeze. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Wednesday: Partly sunny with isolated showers. Altitudes 81 to 87 near shore to about 71 at 4000 feet. East wind up to 10 km/h. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Kona
Today: Sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon with numerous showers. Elevations 82 to 87 near shore to 68 to 73 near 5000 feet. Northwest wind up to 10 km/h. Chance of rain 60 percent.
This evening: Slightly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows 70 to 75 near shore to about 56 near 5000 feet. Breeze. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Wednesday: Sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers. Elevations 82 to 87 near shore to 68 to 73 near 5000 feet. Breeze. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Waimea
Today: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Heights 68 to 83. East winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
This evening: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows around 68 near shore to 56-64 near 3000 feet. Light east winds up to 16 km/h after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Wednesday: Partly sunny with isolated showers. Heights 68 to 83. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Kohala
Today: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Heights 68 to 83. East winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
This evening: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows around 68 near shore to 56-64 near 3000 feet. Light east winds up to 16 km/h after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Wednesday: Partly sunny with isolated showers. Heights 68 to 83. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
South Big Island
Today: Airy. Sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers. Altitudes around 86 near shore to about 75 near 5000 feet. East wind 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.
This evening: Partly cloudy. Lows around 71 near shore to about 55 near 5000 feet. Northeast wind up to 15 km/h.
Wednesday: In the morning mostly sunny, then mostly cloudy. Airy. Scattered rain showers. Altitudes around 86 near shore to about 75 near 5000 feet. NE winds up to 20 mph turning east at 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.
puna
Today: Mostly cloudy. Lots of showers in the morning, isolated showers in the afternoon. Altitudes 81 to 87 near shore to about 71 at 4000 feet. Southeast wind up to 10 km/h. Chance of rain 70 percent.
This evening: Mostly cloudy with numerous showers. Lows 66 to 73 near shore to about 55 at 4000 feet. Breeze. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Wednesday: Partly sunny with isolated showers. Altitudes 81 to 87 near shore to about 71 at 4000 feet. East wind up to 10 km/h. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Waikoloa
Today: Sunny with scattered showers in the morning, then mostly cloudy with scattered showers in the afternoon. Elevations 83 to 88 near shore to 69 to 76 over 4000 feet. Northerly winds up to 10mph turning northwest in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.
This evening: Slightly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows around 74 near shore to 51 to 60 over 4000 feet. Breeze. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Wednesday: Sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers. Elevations 83 to 88 near shore to 69 to 76 over 4000 feet. Northwest wind up to 10 km/h. Chance of rain 50 percent.
summary
A weak high-pressure ridge north of the islands will keep lighter trade winds in the forecast through Thursday. In the afternoon, a sea breeze develops over the sheltered western slopes of each island. A low trough moving through the state will increase rainfall through Wednesday. More typical, drier summer trade wind weather begins Thursday as the low trough exits the pattern to the west and the crest builds back into the region on Friday.
discussion
Extensive clouds are spreading across the Hawaiian Islands as seen in this morning’s GOES satellite imagery. Local radar continues to show scattered showers developing across the state. These clouds and showers are due to a low trough moving westward through the Hawaiian Islands. Upper air balloon soundings from 2am HST this morning show inversion altitudes hovering around 8,000 to 9,000 feet. This higher than normal inversion level will support deeper cloud development and lead to plenty of shower activity through Wednesday, favoring the late night to early morning hours.
The subtropical ridge north of the islands remains in a weakened state due to a long wave trough slowly sweeping through the central North Pacific Basin. Trade winds remain weaker through Thursday due to this weaker high-pressure crest. Local sea breezes develop each day over protected western sections of each island. Clouds and passing showers tend to favor windward and mountainous areas, with some of the heavier showers moving through leeward zones. However, with this less stable hybrid wind pattern, converging trade winds and ocean breezes can be expected to produce some leeward shower activity in the afternoon.
On Friday we switch back to a more dominant trade wind weather pattern as the long trough north of the islands weakens and the subtropical ridge builds up again over the region. These moderate to brisk trades will continue at least into the first half of next week. Short, transient showers typically favor windward and mountainous areas in the night to early morning hours.
aviation
A weak trade wind will continue to carry bands of light showers from the Pacific towards mainly north-east facing slopes and coasts. A faint surface trough drifting across the islands from east to west will further stimulate shower activity.
AIRMET Sierra is currently in effect for the north- and east-facing slopes of Maui, Molokai and Oahu, and for the Big Island north of the volcano upwind. Conditions are expected to improve after sunrise. Elsewhere VFR conditions will prevail with the exception of isolated MVFR conditions with passing showers.
A light sea breeze returns in the afternoon for Big Island downwind. Mostly clear skies in the morning will be replaced by VFR clouds in the late afternoon and will last into the evening hours.
marine
No major changes to the sea and surf forecast with the morning pack. A ridge to the north and a weak bottom near the islands will sustain light to locally moderate trading through Friday. As the low-level feature moves west and dissipates, the surface ridge will lift north and strengthen, allowing winds to increase over the weekend. Winds are expected to remain below the Small Craft Advisory throughout the week.
The current prolonged south swell will gradually ease further into Wednesday. Much less southerly swell is expected Thursday through Sunday. The current small northwest swell is expected to peak mid-period today and then gradually taper off Wednesday through Friday. Briefly choppy surf along the east-facing coasts will remain fairly low through Friday, with a modest pick-up expected over the weekend as trade winds begin to strengthen.
HFO Clocks/Warnings/Notices
none.
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Data courtesy of NOAA.gov
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