Oahu residents, brace yourselves for strong trade winds and a sprinkle of passing showers as a high pressure ridge firmly plants itself north of Hawaii. According to the NWS Honolulu Weather Forecast, the region is expected to be under the tight grip of gusts that could reach up to 50 MPH in some areas until Monday afternoon. The Wind Advisory is already in place, signaling a breezy start to your week.
The sky over the islands is draped with persistent stratocumulus clouds, an exhibition of stability in the atmospheric layers, says the weather forecast. Upper air observations from Lihue and Hilo peered into temperature inversion layers existing 6,000 to 7,000 feet high. It's clear evidence that rain showers will visit mainly the windward and mountainous regions sporadically. For the leeward side, expect an elevated risk of fire since humidity levels are taking a dive along with the stronger winds.
The aviation community should prepare for sporadic mountain valley flight restrictions (MVFR) during those early morning hours when the trade winds indulge windward areas with showers. "Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail," assures the NWS Honolulu Weather Forecast. Turbulence is also on the menu for the flying folk, with AIRMET Tango signaling a rough ride over or downwind of the islands while those trade winds refuse to tire.
On the aquatic front, mariners are looking at a steady brew of fresh to strong trade winds with the Small Craft Advisory holding strong until Monday 6 PM HST, but it's a good bet that this caution could play into early next week for several zones. Surf riders will find east-facing shores rough and choppy, thanks to those relentless easterly gusts, while south shore surfers should experience diminishing waves as a southerly swell slowly fades away. A new swell is anticipated to pump surf back to near summertime averages mid-week.
Leeward locales are getting the dry end of the weather stick, with relative humidity expected to plummet to 45 percent in these regions. No fire weather watches or warnings have been issued, however, as the drought index hovers below action-triggering levels at Honolulu. But stay vigilant—weather conditions could tip toward critical fire weather without much warning.
Hawaii is set to sail through the next few days with a clear course: windy, occasionally wet for some, and with modest relative discomfort for the most vulnerable sectors. For updates on the weather advisories, including the Wind Advisory in effect for parts of Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island, the NWS Honolulu website should be your next click.
