Oahu residents and visitors should prepare for continued rain showers today, as a slow-moving front that has been dousing the western part of the state stalls and begins to weaken. According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, breezy north-northeast winds are expected to fill in behind the front this morning before gradually shifting to east-northeast winds in the afternoon and evening.
The presence of this front is marked by an extensive cloud band measuring around 120 miles, laden with showers across Oahu, with a diminishing risk for thunderstorms as the day progresses. "The upper trough will wash out and lift northeastward through the day today, taking the best dynamics and thunderstorm chances with it," the National Weather Service reported. Despite the diminishing storm threat, gusty winds are anticipated to continue their eastward spread over Oahu in the morning, and, will then ease and veer statewide throughout the day.
As for aviation interests, varying conditions are to be expected due to the dissipating front. Oahu might experience isolated showers that could lead to brief periods of marginal visual flight rules (MVFR), as per the aviation forecast from the National Weather Service. Kauai will likely continue to see visual flight rules (VFR) conditions in the morning, though an increase in clouds and showers could necessitate an AIRMET Sierra for temporary mountain obscuration later on.
In marine news, sailors are advised to expect weakening northeast winds following the front's passage, with a Small Craft Advisory (SCA) in effect for waters west of Oahu due to strong winds and high seas. "A passing front far north of the waters this weekend will keep the regional pressure gradient weak and maintain either variable or gentle trades," the National Weather Service detailed. However, a buildup to strong easterly trades is forecasted for early next week as high pressure reasserts itself to the northeast of Hawaii.
For those looking to catch waves, the National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Advisory through the evening for the northern and western shores of Kauai, Niihau, and the north shores of Oahu. A northwest swell is creating advisory level surf conditions this morning, which are expected to slowly taper off yet remain elevated through the weekend. A smaller south swell, meanwhile, is predicted to diminish throughout the day, with a new south-southwest swell forecasted to arrive over the weekend.
