Oahu residents can expect gentle to moderate east southeast winds to continue through Friday night, according to the latest update from the National Weather Service in Honolulu. This weather pattern is a result of an approaching cold front in the North Central Pacific. As the weekend approaches, though, winds might shift back to moderate trades due to a new high-pressure system building north of the islands. "Localized daytime sea breezes and overnight land breezes" are likely through Friday night, the National Weather Service report indicates.
For now, the National Weather Service has observed a stable atmosphere with "a 7 to 8 kft inversion across the state." Despite the presence of low clouds and few showers tracking in a southeast to northwest direction this morning, most showers seem to be missing the islands, veering "north and south of the islands likely from downstream partial blockage from the Big Island." According to what we found on the National Weather Service website, these showers are expected to taper off soon, while "mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies prevail for leeward locations."
The aviation sector can breathe a sigh of relief as the Kilauea eruption episode ended without further disruption to air travel. "Kilauea eruption episode 34 ended this morning at 7:03 AM HST," and hence, "The potential for ash to impact aviation has diminished, so VA SIGMET Whiskey has been cancelled," as detailed by the National Weather Service report. Meanwhile, moderate trades are anticipated to hold firm, occasionally veering east southeast and possibly allowing for leeward sea breezes to develop in the afternoons, bringing isolated showers and clouds to those areas.
The current gentle to locally fresh trade winds will swing east southeast and weaken through Saturday "giving way to localized land and seabreezes over leeward waters," but "high pressure will build in from the northwest," which is expected to bring back moderate to locally fresh trade winds this weekend. In waters where surfers and mariners intersect, a small medium to long period northwest swell—courtesy of Tropical cyclone Neoguri—is already making itself felt, and "will peak today, before fading Friday," as noted on the National Weather Service website.
Regarding concerns over fire weather, the National Weather Service reassures that "Wind speeds will remain below critical fire weather thresholds for the next seven days." Residents can also expect the temperature inversion height to hover between 7,000 to 8,500 feet. All in all, the state's emergency services can anticipate a period of weather without extreme events or immediate threats, lending a stint of tranquility after the recent volcanic activity.
