Honolulu residents can look forward to a mix of weather conditions this week as an upper-level low drifts across the Big Island. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected over windward Big Island and eastern coastal waters, heightening the humidity and lowering fire concerns for the state. The breezy trades this morning should mellow down by the afternoon, with lighter winds forecast to continue throughout the week, the National Weather Service in Honolulu reports.
According to the National Weather Service discussion, we're tracking an upper-level low that's heading west and may stir up shower activity and some thunderstorms, particularly over the windward and mauka areas to as far north as Maui. Meandering this morning, a Winter Weather Advisory has gone into effect for Big Island summits through Sunday night. Breezing through the morning, wind speeds have dropped from advisory levels, canceling the Wind Advisory for parts of Maui County, Big Island, and the summits of Big Island.
As for those impacted by marine conditions, a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for all coastal waters because of a high-pressure system that's generating fresh to strong trade winds and seas up to 10 feet. This advisory, which includes fresh trades tapering off later in the weekend, is pertinent for Maui County's channels and bays as well as waters south of Big Island until Sunday evening, with winds expected to relax into next week, as reported by the National Weather Service.
Fire danger has decreased on the Big Island and the Red Flag Warning issued for today has been lifted due to enhanced moisture "suppressing the Red Flag Warning for much of the state," as per the National Weather Service fire weather section. Nevertheless, higher humidity levels are not enough to douse the warning in some areas; the alert persists for Niihau, and leeward areas of Kauai and Oahu through this evening. Decreasing trade wind speeds are also contributing to reduced risk, with lighter winds expected to continue reducing the fire weather threat.
For those going airborne, expect diminishing trade winds from today onward as the ridge weakens. The presence of an upper-level disturbance means we might see some moderate clear air turbulence along with the anticipated increased shower activity, primarily in the overnight to early morning time frame. AIRMET Sierra warns of mountain obscuration while AIRMET Tango advises of moderate turbulence, and both advisories are in active status for the state, as per the National Weather Service.
