Honolulu is expected to see increasing wind speeds today and on Saturday due to a high-pressure ridge building north of the state. According to the National Weather Service, "Trade winds will decrease a bit on Sunday and briefly veer out of the east-southeast direction." Easterly winds will then strengthen to moderate to breezy from Sunday night through Wednesday.
The islands are expected to experience wetter conditions with increased showers from today through mid-next week due to a weak low-level trough east of the Big Island. The National Weather Service report states, "This trough is coming into the islands a bit stronger than we anticipated based on available guidance from 24 hours ago." Temperature inversion heights from balloon soundings in Lihue and Hilo are around 6,500 to 7,000 feet and are forecast to rise, leading to more rainfall coverage. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect until 6 PM HST on Saturday for Maalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel, and waters around the Big Island. East-facing shores will have building surf over the weekend and early next week with the return of trade winds. South-facing shores have average surf today, which will decrease as the south swell fades over the weekend.
Bands of low-level clouds moved across the islands this morning on the trade winds, causing "Periods of MVFR conditions with low ceilings and showers should be expected for windward areas today and tonight," as stated by the National Weather Service. An AIRMET Sierra caution for mountain obscurations is in effect over parts of Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island, likely continuing through tonight. Moderate easterly trade winds will persist through the latter half of next week, with showers mainly in windward and mountain areas during nighttime hours.
