The National Weather Service in Honolulu reports that trade winds will gradually weaken over the weekend. A high-pressure system north and northeast of Hawaii has been maintaining "moderate to locally breezy trades," which are expected to ease. The National Weather Service states, "Expect to see fairly typical summertime weather into next week as clouds and showers favor windward and mauka areas."
A 1033 mb high north-northeast of the islands has been causing steady trade winds, but "The high is expected to drift northward over the weekend and into next week," which will likely reduce wind strength tonight and tomorrow. Showery low clouds moved over Maui County and Oahu overnight, leading to AIRMETs for mountain obscurations above 2500 feet. "The backend of this area is expected to reach the islands later this morning," according to the National Weather Service. Cloud coverage near Kauai has been thinning, and conditions there remain uncertain.
High pressure northeast of Hawaii is causing strong trade winds, which are expected to slightly weaken tonight and Saturday. AIRMET Tango is still in effect for turbulence below 8000 feet on the leeward sides of the islands. "A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the typical windy waters around Maui County and Big Island through this afternoon." Winds may briefly ease early Saturday, but "the gradient will remain tight enough across the nearshore waters to result several more days of moderate to locally strong trades." A small south swell is expected to fade today, with a longer-period south swell arriving tonight and another minor swell from Sunday night into Monday. The National Weather Service says this “will hold south-facing shore surf to slightly under summertime averages.” A Small Craft Advisory is in effect until 6 PM HST for Maalaea Bay and Big Island Southeast Waters.
