Honolulu is starting Thursday with partly cloudy skies, temperatures near 79 degrees, and trade winds already making themselves impossible to ignore. The city is headed for a warm 86-degree afternoon, but the more immediate story is wind: gusts could reach 50 mph in exposed parts of Oahu while isolated showers remain possible.
Wind Advisory Now Covers Honolulu Metro
A Wind Advisory remains in effect through 6 a.m. Friday for Central Oahu, East Honolulu, the Ewa Plain, Honolulu Metro, Koolau Leeward, and the Waianae areas. East winds of 20 to 30 mph may gust to 50 mph, according to NWS Honolulu, creating problems for high-profile vehicles and unsecured outdoor items.
The expanded advisory is a notable change from Hoodline's earlier update, which said Honolulu was not included in the land wind advisory at that point. For Thursday commuters and anyone setting up outdoors, the practical move is to allow extra time and secure anything that can become airborne.
South-Facing Beaches Face Rougher Conditions
A High Surf Advisory is posted through 6 a.m. Friday for south and southeast-facing shores, where breaking waves may reach 10 feet. Strong currents will make swimming dangerous, and boaters should note that a Small Craft Advisory is also in effect for Hawaiian waters through the same time.
Mostly Sunny Friday, Wetter Holiday Weekend
Friday should bring another high near 86 degrees with mostly sunny skies, though east-northeast winds will still run around 25 mph and gust to 36 mph. Showers become more widespread over the holiday weekend: Saturday carries a 30% chance, Sunday 40%, and Labor Day Monday 50% with mostly cloudy skies.
Forecasters are also watching Hurricane Lowell, which is expected to turn north later this weekend after passing south of the islands. The exact track remains uncertain, but the National Weather Service says the storm could bring storm surge, wind, and rain to parts of Hawaii early next week, making this a good time to check hurricane plans and supplies before the holiday weekend gets busy.
