A weak cold front, currently moving across Oahu this morning, will continue to spread clouds and enhanced showers to the other islands through Saturday as the frontal cloud band slowly drifts eastward down the island chain. Moderate to breezy north to northeast winds will blow in as the front passes each island. Another stronger front is forecast to approach late Sunday, bringing breezy southwesterly winds into Monday. More significant showers will develop along this next frontal band as these clouds and showers March eastward down the island chain from Monday to Tuesday, before stalling out and diminishing near the Big Island on Wednesday. Expect cool and dry, breezy northwesterly to northerly winds to blow into the region after the front passes each island.
Issued at 920 AM HST Fri Jan 30 2026 An advancing weak frontal boundary moving southward will make its way across the Hawaiian Islands late this morning, bringing periods of increased cloud coverage and shower activity. Expect MVFR conditions along the front as it advances. Winds across the islands will remain generally light variable ahead of the front, but will shift more northern as the front passes, veering more northeasterly this evening.
AIRMET Sierra remains in affect for tempo mountain obscuration above 2000 feet across Kauai and Oahu, but may need to be expanded to Molokai, Maui, and Lanai later today as the front continues to advance south.
A front moving over the western coastal waters early this morning will continue moving southeast down the island chain today. Light and variable winds ahead of the front will be replaced by moderate to fresh north to northeasterly winds in its wake. Light easterly trade winds will briefly return to Hawaiian waters Saturday night and early Sunday, with moderate to locally strong southwesterly winds developing ahead of the next cold frontal system approaching from the northwest late Sunday through Monday. This next cold front will move down the island chain from late Monday night through Tuesday, increasing chances for showers. Fresh to locally strong northwesterly winds will build in behind the front as it passes.
Nearshore buoys at Hanalei and Waimea show that a moderate to large northwest swell is moving through the islands, pushing surf along north and west facing shores well into advisory levels early this morning. However, a bigger and longer period northwest (300-320 degree) overlapping swell is expected to fill in during the day today. This second swell is expected to peak this afternoon and evening, pushing surf heights above warning levels into Saturday for select north and west facing shores. With this morning's forecast updates, a High Surf Warning (HSW) has been issued for north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. A High Surf Advisory (HSA) also remains in effect for north facing shores of Maui and west facing shores of the Big Island. In addition, the Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been expanded to include all windward waters and channels exposed to the northwest swells, where seas are expected to reach into the 10 to 14 foot range. These large northwest swells will decline from Saturday into early next week. Looking ahead, an extra large northwest (310-330 degree) swell may fill in from Tuesday through Wednesday of next week.
A Coastal Flood Statement remains in effect for low-lying shoreline and roadways due to the combination of large surf and higher than predicted water through Monday afternoon.
Surf along east-facing shores will remain small due to the lack of trades locally and upstream of the state. Surf along south- facing shores will also remain small over the next several days.
High Surf Warning until 6 PM HST Saturday for Kauai North-Kauai Southwest-Molokai North-Molokai West-Molokai Windward-Niihau- Oahu North Shore-Waianae Coast.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST Saturday for Kohala-Kona-Maui Central Valley North-Maui Windward West-Windward Haleakala.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Saturday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Windward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Kauai Channel- Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Northwest Waters-Kauai Windward Waters-Maui County Windward Waters-Oahu Windward Waters.
