Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday:
78 Lihue, Kauai
79 Honolulu, Oahu
79 Molokai
82 Kahului, Maui
80 Kona, Hawaii
81 Hilo, Hawaii
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops on Maui and the Big Island…as of 1210pm Friday afternoon:
Kailua Kona – 81
Kapalua, Maui - 73
Haleakala Summit – 52 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea Summit – 46 (13,000+ feet on the Big Island)
Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live web cam on the summit of near 13,800 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. This web cam is available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon shining down during the night at times. Plus, during the nights you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise and sunset too… depending upon weather conditions.
Aloha Paragraphs
Generally fine weather…still some clouds with a few
showers falling here and there today
We’ll find today’s trade winds giving way to lighter
winds from the southeast - with vog this weekend…
light breezes on into next week
Showers falling locally at times this weekend, a few
heavy…with an isolated thunderstorm
The following numbers represent the most recent top wind gusts (mph), along with directions as of Friday afternoon:
18 Port Allen, Kauai – NE
27 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu – NE
17 Molokai – NNE
25 Lanai – NE
17 Kahoolawe – NE
09 Hana, Maui – NW
23 PTA Keamuku, Big Island – NE
Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (inches) for each of the islands as of late Friday morning (1145am totals):
0.71 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.23 Bellows, Oahu
2.50 Molokai
0.18 Lanai
0.01 Kahoolawe
0.43 Kahakuloa, Maui
0.19 Kawainui Stream – Big Island
We can use the following links to see what’s going on in our area of the north central Pacific Ocean. Here’s the latest NOAA satellite picture – the latest looping satellite image… and finally the latest looping radar image for the Hawaiian Islands.
~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~
Our trade winds will give way to lighter southeasterly breezes, with vog…by the weekend into early next week. Here’s the latest weather map, showing the Hawaiian Islands, and the rest of the North Pacific Ocean. ~~~ We find high pressure systems over the ocean to the north-northwest and northeast of the state. At the same time, we see a surface low pressure trough near of our islands…along with an approaching cold front over the ocean to our north. Our winds are still blowing from the trade wind direction, although will be calming down and veering to the southeast this weekend. These breezes will bring warmer weather during the days, along with an influx of volcanic haze (vog) locally. Today will have generally fine weather, with just a few showers along our windward sides…and perhaps over the leeward slopes during the afternoon hours locally too.
Satellite imagery shows clear to partly cloudy skies, with an area of deeper clouds over the ocean to the east and northeast of the state. There are a few heavy showers embedded in this area of clouds and showers…which seem to be getting a little closer now. The bulk of these showers remain offshore however, and are associated with the trough of low pressure near our islands now. Here’s the looping radar image, showing light to moderately heavy showers falling mostly over the ocean, although a few have been able to reach our windward sides of the central islands…along with an area of heavier showers falling over the ocean to the east of the Big Island. Looking at this larger satellite image, which is in the looping mode, we can still see clouds to the east. At the same time, there are deep clouds with thunderstorms firing-off far south, east, north, and northwest of the islands…we remain clear of these showery areas for the time being.
We’ll find a few windward showers, and a few afternoon upcountry showers, otherwise…favorable weather conditions will prevail for the time being. As the southeast winds arrive this weekend, we’ll gradually see volcanic haze venturing up over the smaller islands, from the vents on the Big Island. As we move into the weekend time frame, we’ll also see an increase in rainfall, although not everywhere. These showers will be spotty for the most part, along with a possible thunderstorm here and there as well. There’s a cold front approaching the state, although the models continue to show it stalling just before reaching Kauai. It will likely merge with a trough of low pressure in our area, and make our atmosphere more shower prone. However, there’s expected to be a lack of deep moisture in our area, thus there won’t be widespread rainfall…with showers being of the more hit and miss variety. As we get into early next week, the winds will remain light, with afternoon clouds and showers likely here and there, along with chilly early mornings. ~~~ I’ll be back many times during the day with more updates on all of the above, I hope you have a great Friday wherever you happen to be spending it. Aloha for now…Glenn.
World-wide tropical cyclone activity:
Atlantic Ocean: The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Here’s the 2013 hurricane season summary
Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean
Caribbean Sea:
Gulf of Mexico:
Here’s a satellite image of the Caribbean Sea…and the Gulf of Mexico.
Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
Eastern Pacific: The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15th through November 30th. Here’s the 2013 hurricane season summary
Here’s a wide satellite image that covers the entire area between Mexico, out through the central Pacific…to the International Dateline.
Central Pacific Ocean: The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Here’s the 2013 hurricane season summary
Here’s a link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)
Western Pacific Ocean: There are no active tropical cyclones
South Pacific Ocean: Tropical Cyclone 07P (Ian) remains active in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, here’s the JTWC graphical track map…and a NOAA satellite image
North and South Indian Oceans: Tropical Cyclone 08S (Colin) is now active in the South Indian Ocean, here’s the JTWC graphical track map…and a NOAA satellite image
Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Interesting: Increase in Tourism Impacts Seashell Loss - Walking down the beach you see the perfect shell. You pick it up, put it in your pocket and decide to keep it to remind you of your trip to paradise. While different agencies, states, and countries have specific regulations on taking shells, vials of sand, or any other object from its natural environment, you are generally not allowed to bring these souvenirs home with you, especially to another country.
Why? Mainly because if everyone did it, there would be none left. But despite airports seizing tons of shells each week, seashells are still disappearing at various tourist locations and according to a new study, as global tourism increases, human-induced seashell loss may harm natural habitats worldwide.
A new study conducted by researchers from the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus and the University of Barcelona demonstrates that increased tourism on the Mediterranean coast of Spain correlated with a 70 percent decrease in mollusk shells during the tourist season in July and August and a 60 percent decrease in other months.
Scientists fear shell removal could cause significant damage to natural ecosystems and organisms that rely on shells, said lead author Michal Kowalewski, the Thompson Chair of Invertebrate Paleontology at the Florida Museum. How? For one, shells provide a home or attachment surface for organisms like algae, seagrass, and sponges. Hermit crabs also use shells as protective armor while some fish use these shells to hide from predators. In addition, shells are mostly made of calcium carbonate and in many coastal habitats they dissolve slowly and recycle back into the ocean.
In the study, researchers conducted multiple monthly surveys from 1978 to 1981 and from 2008 to 2010 on Llarga Beach, a small stretch of shoreline on the coast of Spain. Based on area hotel sales data, researchers estimate the number of tourists visiting the beach increased threefold over the last 30 years, with most visits during the summer. Over the same time period, the number of shells on the beach decreased by more than 60 percent. The survey area has experienced no new commercial fisheries or urban development since the 1970s, suggesting human activity unrelated to tourism is unlikely to have contributed substantially to the shell loss, Kowalewski said. Changes in ecosystem structure and local environmental conditions, which could potentially contribute to a natural decrease in shell numbers, were not observed, he said.