Honolulu's skies are bracing for a bit of drama today. According to the National Weather Service Honolulu, a weakened inversion layer is set to bring a higher chance of showers and possibly thunderstorms. These conditions are thanks to a front moving across the islands, stirring up the pot with moisture and a mix of chillier air from above. The Weather Service points out the showers should predominantly hit Maui and Big Island as they track down the chain tonight.
If you're out windsurfing or sailing, keep a sharp eye; it's getting choppy out there. The same report from National Weather Service indicated that a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect until Sunday evening for several channels around Maui and the Big Island, so watersport enthusiasts should take note before venturing out. With moderate to breezy trades holding strong for the next couple of days, those winds aren't going anywhere anytime soon. They're pushing in low clouds and scattered showers, primarily drenching windward and mauka areas, and dropping visibility with mountain obscurations.
For flight operations across the state, the forecast tells a tale of moderate turbulence and variable visibility. "Moderate to breezy trades will persist for the next several days," National Weather Service mentioned, forecasting "MVFR conds in any SHRA or tstms otherwise VFR prevails." Aviators can expect an uptick in showers, especially at the western end as the front moves through, which may invite an isolated thunderstorm or two over Kauai and Oahu through tonight.
On a brighter note, surf's up for south shore beaches. Derived from the marine forecast, a couple of south-southwest swells are swelling up the waves this week. "Long period forerunners of the first swell are already arriving at the southern buoys," they say, setting up surfers for some sweet swell action that should peak by this evening, as reported by the National Weather Service. And while surf is set to stay below advisory levels, it's still a call to wax those boards for the seasonal average heights. Looking later into next week, a smaller replacement swell is due to rise and crest by Wednesday.
For the island's greenery and those tasked with its protection, it's a so-so week in terms of fire danger. The current conditions will hover just under critical thresholds for fire weather, thanks to fluctuating humidity levels and wind speeds. National Weather Service states a round of “unsettled weather will increase humidity levels, clouds and shower chances through today,” offering some relief, but also an ever-constant need for vigilance. Big Island and Maui can expect higher temperature inversion heights between 9,000 to 10,000 feet today.
