First Alert: Periods of heavy rain for Kauai, Oahu and Molokai; then strengthening winds
Stronger trades are on the way
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A first alert heads up, we are tracking a weak front and some instability ahead of it that may trigger some thunderstorms for Kauai and Oahu and over Mauna Loa on Hawaii Island. We will need to keep an eye on the sky and our First Alert interactive radar.
You may hear the rumble of thunder and see flashes of lightning over Kauai and Oahu and maybe Molokai.
Light to moderate winds from the east to southeast will continue across the Hawaiian Islands into Wednesday, as a surface trough and weakening boundary approach the state from the northwest. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible through Wednesday, mainly over the western end of the island chain, as well as inland Big Island. High pressure will rebuild north of the region by late Wednesday with increasing trade winds and a return to a more typical windward/mauka shower pattern.
Satellite and radar imagery this morning shows scattered clouds and showers over the waters around Kauai and Oahu, as well as the southeast waters and slopes of the Big Island and Maui, consistent with a hybrid light wind pattern over the western end of the state and southeast winds for the eastern half. This pattern is due to the presence of a surface trough (the remnants of a cold front) approximately 300 miles northwest of Kauai. In addition, a mid- to upper-level low has become cut off to the north west of Kauai, which provided enough instability for a few thunderstorms to develop over the waters south of Kauai and Oahu early this morning.
Let’s talk surf: The northwest swell (310 degree) has filled in around the islands today, and is expected to gradually decline through tomorrow. Surf along south-facing shores will be elevated this week as two long period south southwest swells (180-200 degree) build into the region Wednesday and again this weekend. A High Surf Advisory (HSA) may need to be issued for south facing shores Wednesday as the swell builds late tonight. East facing shores will remain small through Wednesday but will rise later this week as the trades return and restrengthen.
This swell will then gradually lower Friday into next weekend. Surf along east facing shores will trend up slightly this weekend as the trades return.
Wishing you blue skies and much aloha.
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