Clouds and quick-hit showers set the tone in Honolulu on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as the city woke up to mostly gray skies and scattered rain likely through the day. Temperatures are still classic summer, with highs near 85°F and overnight lows hanging in the mid‑70s, but east‑northeast breezes are helping spin up fast downpours over windward slopes. Those bursts of rain can leave standing water in low spots, so drivers should expect slick, occasionally puddled streets during the commute.
Showers Stick Around Through Wednesday
Off and on showers are expected to linger into Wednesday, July 22, 2026, with forecasters calling for about a 40–50% chance of rain. Some neighborhoods could pick up roughly a quarter to a half inch of new rainfall from localized cells. Heavier, more focused showers may trigger nuisance low‑lying flooding or street ponding, especially in windward and mauka areas.
Forecasters have summed up the setup as “Light to occasionally breezy trades with an increase in showers,” according to the National Weather Service Honolulu.
Breezy Trades And Surf Outlook
East‑northeast trade winds should run around 8–15 mph with gusts near 20 mph today, then strengthen from Wednesday into late week, with gusts climbing into the mid‑20s by Thursday, July 23, 2026. That uptick in wind, combined with incoming long‑period south‑southwest swell energy, is boosting the odds for advisory‑level surf starting Thursday and continuing into the weekend.
For more on the trade‑wind pattern and what it means for local beaches, see what to expect as trades kick up the surf.
Plan Ahead
A light rain jacket is a smart grab as you head out, and giving yourself a little extra travel time would not hurt. Brief downpours can cut visibility and leave standing water in low-lying spots, especially during heavier bursts.
Anyone planning time in the water should keep an eye on marine updates later this week, as both winds and surf are expected to rise, a key concern for beachgoers and small‑craft operators alike.
