Trade winds will steadily increase Wednesday through Thursday night and will bring windy conditions by Thursday. Wind speeds could increase to wind advisory level, especially over Maui County and the Big Island on Thursday. Passing showers will continue to ride in with the breezy to windy trade winds through the weekend.
Moderate to fresh trade winds will strengthen Wednesday and Thursday as high pressure builds. Showers will mostly affect windward and mountain areas as well as the night time and early morning hours. Drier air could fill in later tomorrow night, limiting showers.
AIRMET Sierra for mountain obscuration may be needed tomorrow morning, before drier conditions settle in later on Wednesday. The increasing trade winds and inversion tonight and Wednesday will likely require AIRMET Tango.
Issued at 316 PM HST Tue May 19 2026 Locally fresh trades become strong with localized near-gales during the latter half of the week. The Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains in effect and will eventually be expanded to all waters as winds and seas build later this week.
Small, short to medium period NNW swell filling in today. This will be followed later this week by a small NNW swell emanating from a strong low near the Aleutian Islands. A series of small, long period SSW swells supports near-average surf along S shores. Meanwhile, strengthening trades maintain elevated surf and short period fresh swell along E facing shores into next week.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Wednesday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters- Maalaea Bay-Pailolo Channel.
