Air Temperatures – The following high temperatures (F) were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday…along with the low temperatures Friday:
82 – 68 Lihue, Kauai
84 – 69 Honolulu, Oahu
83 – 61 Kahului AP, Maui
83 – 70 Kona Int’l AP
78 – 67 Hilo AP, Hawaii
Here are the latest 24-hour precipitation totals (in inches) for each of the islands as of Friday afternoon:
0.05 Anahola, Kauai
0.01 Tunnel RG, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.06 Haiku, Maui
0.09 Saddle Quarry, Big Island
The following numbers represent the strongest wind gusts (mph) as of Friday afternoon:
14 Poipu, Kauai
18 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
12 Molokai
13 Lanai
21 Kahoolawe
12 Maalaea Bay, Maui
17 South Point, Big Island
Here’s a wind profile of the Pacific Ocean – Closer view of the islands / Here’s the vog forecast animation
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
Storm and gale low pressure systems are spinning far northeast, north and northwest of the islands, while high pressure systems are located northeast and northwest, with lighter winds over us today…as a cold front bears down on Hawaii
A cold front is approaching the islands to the northwest
Stable low clouds being carried our way on the lighter winds, banking up against the windward sides…clear to partly cloudy leeward sections
Just a few showers over…mostly offshore – Looping radar image
Small Craft Advisory…for large northwest swells, and upcoming windy conditions
High Surf Advisory…north and west shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and north shore of Maui
Special Weather Statement…very windy all islands this weekend
Gale Watch…Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon for portions of Maui County and Big Island waters
>>> A cold front will approach the state from the northwest today and this evening, then move down the island chain late tonight and Saturday, while a strong high pressure system passes north of the islands through the weekend. This combination will bring increasing winds to western and central parts of the state late tonight, and very windy conditions to all islands Saturday through Sunday.
The strongest northeast to east winds will be over higher terrain, through mountain gaps, and downslope of the mountains. Loose outdoor objects may become airborne under these strong winds. Prepare now by securing these objects before winds increase. The strong cross winds may bring hazardous driving conditions, especially for high profile vehicles.
If you have outdoor plans for the weekend, be prepared for very windy conditions. If your plans involve marine activities, you may want to consider postponing them.
~~~ Hawaii Weather Narrative ~~~
Winds will increase tonight…as a cold front approaches the state. Here’s the latest weather map, showing low pressure centers far to the northwest, north and northeast of Hawaii…with an approaching cold front northwest of the islands. Meanwhile, we find high pressure systems to the northeast and northwest of the islands, with a ridge of high pressure just north of Kauai. The trades will drop off briefly, before blustery winds from the northeast arrive later today into the weekend. This will prompt possible wind advisories over many parts of the islands, with even the chance of a high wind warning…and gales across some waters. The winds will weaken early next week, although pick up again from the north to northeast, as another cold front moves by to our north towards mid-week.
Very limited showers…increasing tonight into the weekend. Our atmosphere continues to be relatively stable and dry, with just a few showers here and there. Looking into the weekend, we’ll see a frontal cloud band pushing down through the state tonight, bringing a period of passing showers our way through Sunday. The forecast shows a major change Saturday in association with this cold front, with blustery winds and passing showers arriving with its arrival…and in its wake. The smaller islands will see some passing showers in the wake of the frontal passage (fropa), although Maui and the Big Island will likely see the most shower activity, lasting for a couple of days. The forecast calls for yet another cold front to approach the state by next Tuesday-Wednesday, although it may pass by to our north without providing much, if any precipitation.
Marine environment details: As the current large west-northwest swell gradually lowers, a reinforcing northwest swell is expected to arrive today with advisory level surf expected. Another large northwest swell is expected to arrive Monday night and Tuesday. Current guidance indicates that this swell will reach High Surf Warning levels.
Strengthening winds behind a cold front passing across the area this weekend will cause a significant increase in choppy surf along north and east facing shorelines, possibly bringing advisory level surf. There will also be a series of small south swells throughout the forecast period.
A Small Craft Advisory remains posted for waters exposed to large northwest swells. Strengthening winds behind the above mentioned front will cause Small Craft Advisory conditions across the entire area and possibly gale force conditions over the typically windy waters around Maui County and the Big Island.
Windy weather through the weekend
World-wide tropical cyclone activity…with storms showing up when active
>>> Here’s the Friday Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) Weather Wall presentation…covering the western Pacific and Indian Oceans
>>> Atlantic Ocean: The 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st
Here’s a satellite image of the Atlantic Ocean
>>> Caribbean: The 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st
>>> Gulf of Mexico: The 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st
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 2017 hurricane season begins May 15th
Here’s the NOAA 2016 Hurricane Season Summary for the Eastern Pacific Basin
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: The 2017 hurricane season begins June 1st
Here’s the NOAA 2016 Hurricane Season Summary for the Central Pacific Basin
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: How Climate Change Impacts Our Water Supply – The water cycle, the process by which water circulates through the planet’s atmosphere and waterways, helps make life here on Earth possible.
Climate change, however, caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions, is disrupting that process. It’s creating a vicious cycle in which higher temperatures, changes in rainfall and water contamination cause environmental consequences that make global warming worse and damage the health of the planet further.
How Climate Change Impacts Earth’s Water
Climate change causes various changes in our water supply, which sometimes leads to pollution and other problems.
Changes in rainfall
Increased temperatures caused by climate change raise the rate of evaporation from both land and oceans, as well as enable the atmosphere to hold more water by about 4 percent for every 1 degree Fahrenheit increase.
This added evaporation will dry out some areas and fall as excess precipitation in others. Generally, dry areas are expected to get drier while wet areas become wetter. This will lead to increasing instances of drought in some areas and more flooding in others.
Increased need for water
As temperatures rise and evaporation amplifies, so will the need for water for individuals, agriculture and industry. Rising population will add to this increased demand.
As certain areas experience more droughts, we’ll have to more frequently transport water where it is needed. Rising water levels in other areas may necessitate infrastructure changes. Both of these essential measures may result in more emissions and more used energy.
A rise in sea levels
Melting ice caps, ice sheets and glaciers, as well as expanding warming waters, will lead to rising sea levels. This could harm coastal communities and various ecosystems, as well as contaminate fresh water supplies.
Rising sea levels could push saltwater into freshwater aquifers, making the water unusable for drinking or irrigation unless it’s treated using an energy-intensive process.
Increased water pollution
High levels of rainfall could overwhelm and damage important infrastructure like sewer systems and water treatment plants and lead to polluted water, causing it to become brown or cloudy. Heavy precipitation could also lead to increased runoff of fertilizers, sediment, trash and other pollutants into water sources.
Impact of water pollution
Water pollution can have a multitude of negative effects on our environment, some of which can lead to even more problems and exacerbate climate change.
Stress on ecosystems
Increased levels of nutrients in water from things like fertilizer runoff can cause algae to grow at excessive rates. When this algae dies, bacteria can lower the level of oxygen in the water, creating dead zones where nothing can live.
Garbage that makes its way into ocean waters can also kill marine life that mistake it for food or get caught in it.
Chemical pollution can also harm or kill marine life. It can accumulate in sea creatures in increasing amounts as it moves up the food chain, eventually affecting humans.
Some scientists say ocean degradation could even cause a mass extinction event.
Worsened climate change
As water becomes a scarcer resource, we may need to treat this increasingly polluted water to make it useable. This process requires a lot of energy and could lead to more emissions.
Hope for the future
Climate change is having a negative impact on our water supply, ecosystems and quality. These problems in turn lead to more issues and the overall degradation of our environment.
The situation is clearly serious, but there are some things we can do.
Decreasing emissions by using less energy or switching to renewable energy helps to slow global warming. Turning lights off when not in use, driving less and insulating your home to make it more energy-efficient can all help reduce energy use.
Buying environmentally responsible products and eating a low-impact diet are other lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact.
Expressing your support for environmental protection can also help. You can make your voice heard by writing government officials, voting, posting about it online or simply talking with family and friends.
The effect that climate change has on our water is just one example of the impact it can have. It is becoming increasingly evident that we are at a critical point in time regarding our changing climate and the future of our planet.