As Honolulu residents gear up for a breezy weekend, the National Weather Service predicts that strong trade winds will bring limited cloud cover and scattered showers, particularly focusing on the island's windward and mauka regions. According to the National Weather Service Honolulu Weather Forecast, these conditions are expected to persist into the next week as a result of a stable surface ridge to the north of the state.
For outdoor enthusiasts and those planning weekend activities, rainfall shouldn't be much of a deterrent. Rainfall totals over the past six hours have been relatively low, generally ranging "from 0.02 to 0.30 inches for the wetter windward around around Big Island and southeast Maui," the National Weather Service reports. However, a few moderate showers are anticipated around Kauai.
In terms of aviation, pilots should take note of the potential for marginal visual flight rules conditions along windward slopes due to periods of short rain showers, with an AIRMET Sierra already in effect for exposed and elevated terrain. VFR conditions are expected to prevail in most leeward areas, although some isolated marginal visual flight rules conditions can be anticipated each afternoon, particularly on the Kona slopes of the Big Island, as reported by the National Weather Service.
Mariners haven't been left out of this weekend's forecast either, with the National Weather Service maintaining a Small Craft Advisory for select waterways and channels impacted by fresh to locally strong trade winds through Sunday evening. The advisory spans areas such as Maalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel, and regions surrounding the Big Island. This advisory is "likely need to be expanded in coverage and extended into early next week," indicating that vigilance on part of sailors and boaters will be required.
The surf report provides a mix of expectations depending on which shore you're headed to. South facing shores are set to experience minimal surf until a slight swell starting Sunday, attributed to activity near New Zealand, which should bump up surf heights into next week. Conversely, east facing shores will be dealing with rough and choppy conditions due to the persistent strong trade winds. For those interested in a quieter beach day, the north facing shores will see only tiny seasonal surf, as per the National Weather Service.
