Oahu and its neighboring islands are bracing for increased winds and the possibility of showers as a high-pressure system intensifies to the north. Trade winds are expected to pick up throughout the day, potentially reaching near gale-force levels in some areas. While conditions are to remain dry for the most part, brief showers could visit the windward and mauka regions according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Honolulu.
The current weather pattern, featuring seasonable and gusty trade winds, will continue into early next week. Despite the windward areas being favored by occasional showers, leeward areas could also see some precipitation during the early morning hours. Rising moisture levels, marked by low-level clouds spotted in the morning satellite imagery, are responsible for these passing showers.
Aviation notices alert to breezy conditions that could impact visibility, with mountain obscuration and turbulence expected to be an ongoing concern for certain regions. In particular, the NWS has issued an AIRMET Sierra for mountain obscuration across parts of Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island. The wind's strength is also set to have an effect on the sea conditions, prompting the expansion of a Small Craft Advisory for Hawaiian waters which is predicted to extend beyond its current Thursday deadline.
Surfers should note the mixed bag of wave action: a small south-southwest swell is on a declining trend, expected to dissipate by Thursday. However, a new pulse from the same direction should become noticeable later in the week. A significant swell from the south-southwest will hit this weekend, brought on by a storm that recently passed east of New Zealand. Surf heights "will likely reach the advisory threshold of 10 feet along south facing shores during its peak Sunday into Monday" as stated in the forecast from the NWS office in Honolulu.
Residents on Big Island's summits should be aware of the Wind Advisory in place until early Thursday morning, signaling the need for caution. With the trade winds not showing signs of weakening until later in the weekend, people are advised to monitor updates closely and secure any property that may be vulnerable to the gusty conditions.
