Windy and gusty northeast trade winds will prevail through at least Tuesday, decrease a notch by midweek, then become light and variable heading into next weekend. A cool and dry airmass should keep showers light and over windward and mountain areas for the next few days, except windward areas of the Big Island where lingering moisture could keep scattered showers through Monday. A cold upper trough may slightly enhance trade wind showers during the night time and early morning hours each day this week.
Issued at 933 AM HST Sun Mar 29 2026
A weak trough is gradually moving northeastward away from the Hawaiian Islands, while a broad area of high pressure builds in its wake. Lingering showers from the trough continue over portions of the Big Island, but are expected to have minimal impact on the terminals. VFR conditions are anticipated to prevail under moderate trades throughout the forecast period.
AIRMET Tango is in effect for moderate turbulence downwind of terrain due to the breezy tradewinds. AIRMET Tango is also in effect for moderate turbulence between FL200-FL300 due to the subtropical jetstream positioned in the area.
Issued at 933 AM HST Sun Mar 29 2026
Strong high pressure NNW of the islands and low pressure to the NE maintain fresh to strong NE trades through Monday. The gradient then relaxes as the low dissipates allowing winds to ease and veer to the E as the high settles to the N through midweek. The Small Craft Advisory for all waters due to winds and seas remains in effect through tonight.
The aforementioned low is directing a moderate to large short period NNE (010-020) swell that will build through today. Given recent observations at NDBC Buoy 51000, surf will likely reach the High Surf Advisory (HSA) threshold for N facing shores and select exposed E facing shorelines tonight. The HSA threshold may be reached sooner for Kauai where Hanalei where the nearshore PacIOOS Buoy is already registering 10 ft this morning with about 8-9 ft attributable to this NNE swell. The near term forecast there was adjusted upward. This swell will peak tonight and slowly decline through the week.
The Marine Weather Statement remains in effect beginning at 6pm today for harbor surges due to the NNE swell, particularly for Hilo and Kahului Harbors.
Surf along E shores remains short period and choppy due to steady trade winds with select shorelines also seeing exposure to the imminent NNE swell. For S shores, a small medium period swell will provide small surf for the next few days. Surf along W shores remains small.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Monday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters- Big Island Windward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Kauai Channel-Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Northwest Waters-Kauai Windward Waters- Maalaea Bay-Maui County Leeward Waters-Maui County Windward Waters-Oahu Leeward Waters-Oahu Windward Waters-Pailolo Channel.
