Honolulu's weather is gearing up for a shift, according to the latest forecast from NWS Honolulu. The serene northwest breezes are expected to pivot northeast tonight and gather strength into the weekend, bringing a semblance of normalcy back to the region's dew points. Island residents can anticipate an uptick in trade showers, particularly in the windward and mauka regions, with occasional showers creeping into the leeward areas through the weekend and into early next week. "Light northwest winds will shift to northeast tonight and Saturday while gradually strengthening," NWS - Honolulu Weather Forecast highlighted.
The past cool and crisp conditions observed this morning are due to low dewpoints, ranging from the low 50s to 60 across Hawaii. Relieved of clouds thanks to the overnight land breeze and under the guise of thin upper-level clouds, temperatures dived into the mid to low 60s, making it another dry and cool day, especially for Kauai and Oahu. However, things are looking moist for Maui County and the Big Island, as dew points are expected to climb owing to a transient surface high moving in, potentially stirring up enhanced trade wind showers particularly around Maui County by late afternoon. "Expect another rather dry and cool day today for Kauai and Oahu," the NWS - Honolulu Weather Forecast detailed, before hinting at moisture enhanced down from the tropics.
Aviation and marine activities will also feel the weather's whims. VFR conditions are set to rule through this evening, but we could see some mountain obscuration issues in windward Big Island or East Maui as the trade wind showers kick in. Mariner folk should note that a Small Craft Advisory is on the books until 6 pm this evening for most marine zones, so keep an eye out for those 10ft range seas. That's not all; surfers on north-facing shores are advised of a High Surf Advisory in effect until 6 pm. Disorganized swell conditions are predicted to calm down through the weekend, but overlapping north and northwest swells might give some oomph to the start of the new week.
Fire hazards appear to be on the low side, with the National Weather Service indicating afternoon RH values sitting comfortably in the 40s and wind levels below the critical fire behavior threshold. Moisture rebounds and higher relative humidity beginning Saturday should ensure no critical fire behavior is expected during the forecast period.
