Honolulu, brace yourselves for a stormy spell, as Tropical Storm Kiko marches on past the islands, casting a shadow over the usual meteorological patterns. According to the Honolulu Weather Forecast, we won't get hit directly, but the effects are blatant: heavy rains, and grandiose waves on east-facing shores are set to mark the next couple of days. Tomorrow, as Kiko waves goodbye, we're promised a return to the comforting rhythm of moderate trade winds and the odd windward shower.
It's an atmospheric rollercoaster out there, folks. Expect rain showers to swagger across Oahu and Kauai, as they've done so overnight, delivering a dousing of up to a quarter of an inch in places. Kiko, about 200 miles northeast of Hilo and weakening, is still influencing our weather—shutting down trade winds, throwing out sea breezes, and may even spark the odd thunderstorm or two over the Big Island's interior. Yes, that distant storm is holding our local climates in a bit of a hostage situation until Wednesday, when a semblance of normalcy starts to seep back in.
Aviation is also in the mix of this tropical tangle. Fluctuating winds are due to mess with the regular trade flow, and a mix of visibility-dropping showers and the occasional thunderstorm threaten to pepper the Big Island's air. Pilots have been warned: expect to face conditions far from the usual clear skies, as spelled out by the National Weather Service.
On the briny front, surfers and beachgoers take note: Kiko's knack for stirring up the ocean delivers both threats and thrills. Hilo's buoy data is already telling tales of increasing swells and it's expected to ramp up over the next 24 hours. A High Surf Warning ain't no joke—it’s in effect for several regions including Maui Windward West, Molokai Windward and the Big Island. All you wave-riders, remember, the conditions are ripe for danger along those east-facing shores.
If there's a silver lining to this cloud-wrought saga, it's this: fire-fighting folks can breathe a bit easier as the decreased winds and a dose of humidity courtesy of Kiko put a damper on fire weather concerns. By Thursday, our resident trade winds are due to sweep back through the islands with moderate zeal and help keep things stable, but not quite reaching those critical fire weather thresholds.
