Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday along with the low temperatures Monday:
82 – 76 Lihue, Kauai
84 – 73 Honolulu, Oahu
83 – 73 Molokai AP
85 – 68 Kahului AP, Maui
84 – 73 Kailua Kona
82 – 69 Hilo AP, Hawaii
Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (in inches) for each of the islands as of Monday morning:
0.47 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
1.20 Poamoho RG 1, Oahu
0.53 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
2.58 Puu Kukui, Maui
1.72 Saddle Quarry, Big Island
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Monday morning:
16 Poipu, Kauai
33 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
35 Molokai
17 Lanai
36 Kahoolawe
23 Maalaea Bay, Maui
27 PTA Range 17, Big Island
Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of our tallest mountain Mauna Kea (nearly 13,800 feet high) on the Big Island of Hawaii. This webcam is 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.
Aloha Paragraphs
There’s a storm low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska, far north of Hawaii, with an associated cold front well offshore to our north and northwest
High cirrus (the brighter white clouds) are mostly offshore now, with thunderstorms well south and west
Low clouds are contributing to partly to mostly cloudy skies, being carried over the islands by the prevailing trade wind flow…with high cirrus clouds looming just south
Showers falling locally, mostly along the windward sides and offshore – Looping radar image
Small Craft Advisory…all Hawaiian coasts and channels – starting this evening
High Surf Advisory…east facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island
Gale Watch…Maalaea Bay, Pailolo and Alenuihaha Channels, leeward and southeastern waters around the Big Island – starting Tuesday morning
~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~
Somewhat lighter trades winds will occur today, then increasing significantly Tuesday through Friday. Here’s the latest weather map, showing high pressure systems northeast and northwest of Hawaii. These moderately strong cells will keep our trade winds active, with no end in sight from this vantage point. The strongest trade wind speeds through the next week will occur Tuesday through Friday. This unusually windy weather will bring 50+ mph wind gusts to some parts of the island chain. These conditions will very likely lead to Wind Advisories over the islands at times, and Gale Warnings over Hawaiian waters locally at their peak as well. These blustery winds should begin to ease up later in the upcoming weekend, although continue from the trade wind direction into at least early next week.
Here’s a wind profile of the offshore waters around the islands – and a closer look
Here’s the Hawaiian Islands Sulfate Aerosol animated graphic, showing vog forecast
Windward showers locally, while the leeward sides remain in better shape for the most part. Leftover moisture from the old cold front, still located upwind of the islands, will be carried over the windward sides today into Tuesday morning. Weather conditions should then turn at least somewhat drier during the day Tuesday into Wednesday. The outlook continues to suggest that the Thanksgiving holiday will see the return of wet trade wind conditions, with drier weather arriving again by the weekend.
Marine environment details: The coverage of the Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is now active over the windward waters from Oahu to the Big Island, the Kaiwi, Pailolo, and Alenuihaha Channels, Maalaea Bay, and waters south of the Big Island. This SCA will be expanded to all waters starting at 6pm HST this evening, as a stronger high pressure system moves closer to the islands. The SCA should remain in place for all Hawaiian waters through the rest of the week.
A Gale Watch goes into effect Tuesday morning for the typically windy zones such as the Pailolo and Alenuihaha Channels, Maalaea Bay, and waters south of the Big Island. This watch may become a warning by Tuesday evening, with the chance it may include other marine zones with time.
A high surf advisory is now in effect for the east facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island through at least 6 pm HST Tuesday. The responsible north-northeast swell subsides Tuesday night, leaving just the elevated trade wind swell in place.
A small swell could provide a slight bump in surf for south facing shores from midweek through the weekend. A series of small northwest swells are also expected through the week.
~~~ An inspiring, although challenging National Geographic film called Before the Flood…with Leonardo DiCaprio (full screen best viewing)
Breezy with showers arriving at times, mostly along our windward sides
World-wide tropical cyclone activity…
>>> Atlantic Ocean: No active tropical cyclones
Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean
>>> Caribbean:
Tropical Storm 16L (Ott0) is active over the southwestern Caribbean Sea, here’s the NHC graphical track map, with a satellite image, and what the computer models are showing
>>> Gulf of Mexico: No active tropical cyclones
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: No active tropical cyclones
Here’s a wide satellite image that covers the entire area between Mexico, out through the central Pacific…to the International Dateline.
Here’s the link to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
>>> Central Pacific: No active tropical cyclones
Here’s a link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC)
>>> Northwest Pacific Ocean: No active tropical cyclones
>>> South Pacific Ocean: No active tropical cyclones
>>> North and South Indian Oceans / Arabian Sea: No active tropical cyclones
Here’s a link to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
Interesting: Ammonia-rich bird poop cools the atmosphere – It turns out bird poop helps cool the Arctic.
That’s according to new research from Colorado State University atmospheric scientists, who are working to better understand key components of Arctic climate systems.
Publishing in Nature Communications and featured by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science Jeff Pierce and graduate student Jack Kodros present evidence linking ammonia emissions from summertime Arctic seabird-colony excrement, called guano, to newly formed atmospheric aerosol particles. These particles can in turn influence Arctic cloud properties and their effects on climate.
Clouds and climate
Clouds play a key role in modulating Arctic temperature; thus, understanding factors that influence clouds is essential, Pierce says. Central to the development of clouds is the availability of cloud condensation nuclei – small atmospheric particles around which water can condense.
Using a combination of observations and computer modeling, Pierce, Kodros and co-authors at Dalhousie University, University of Toronto, and Environment and Climate Change Canada determined that migratory-seabird colonies have a definitive influence on atmospheric particles and clouds in the pristine summertime Arctic.
They report the presence of summertime bursts of atmospheric particles linked to ammonia emissions from seabird-colony guano. These particles can spread throughout the Arctic, fostering cloud-droplet formation, and in turn reflect sunlight back to space for a net cooling effect.
“This newly identified and fascinating ecological-atmospheric connection highlights the interconnectedness of the many components of Earth’s climate system,” Pierce said.