For those enjoying the gentle sway of palm trees and the soft murmur of ocean waves in Hawaii, the weather has a script of its own to play. The National Weather Service in Honolulu has forecasted moderate to locally breezy trade winds for today, focusing showers mainly over the windward areas. Leeward territories, on the flip side, will see sparing rainfall, except for some afternoon action over Kona's slopes. The National Weather Service reports a 1034 mb high pressure situated about 1400 miles north of the islands, slightly loosening the grip of the expected trade winds.
As night falls and Tuesday unfurls, prepare to don the rain jackets; an influx of moisture is set to elevate the shower activity into Wednesday. The NWS also indicates a batch of heavier clouds and showers mimicking a dance around Kauai, pushed by an upper-level trough to the west. While the leeward locales, basking mostly in dryness today, should anticipate a modest increase in those passing showers.
Flight operators and sea-goers, bear in mind that conditions will evolve through the week. Aviation-wise, trade winds are likely to gain strength, with a potential for marginal visual flight rule conditions due to increased showers. While no AIRMETs are currently waved, alertness is crucial as conditions may shift tonight. Mariners confront a resolute high pressure that means a Small Craft Advisory remains in force until Wednesday for several channels and waters, particularly those near Maui and the Big Island, according to the National Weather Service.
On shore, surfers may find the swells less than thrilling with below-average surf predicted throughout most of the week. However, a sparkle of hope glimmers for the back end of the week as a small south swell may perk up the waves a touch. Meanwhile, local tide gauges have been registering water levels a fraction over the half-foot mark above coastal flooding benchmarks, prompting a Coastal Flood Statement that stands through this afternoon for Hilo, Kahului, and Honolulu areas.
Lastly, as the week's curtain falls, the reinvigorated trade winds are slated to fan out drier air over the islands late Wednesday into Thursday, flagging potential fire weather concerns towards the weekend. So, whether you're planning to grace the skies, navigate the seas, or find solace on the sandy shores, stay vigilant and tuned in for the latest from the National Weather Service's bulletins.
