Breezy to locally strong trade winds are expected this week. Winds will be strongest in higher terrain areas, passes, and areas immediately south through west of mountains across all islands. Showers carried in on the trade will be focused over windward and mauka areas.
Issued at 338 PM HST Sun Feb 15 2026
Breezy easterly trade winds continue today, bringing bands of showers along with it. These showers will continue to primarily affect windward and mountain areas across the state, with some spillover showers leaking into leeward areas. MVFR conditions will occur within the showers while VFR prevails elsewhere. These intermittent showers are expected to continue through tonight.
AIRMET Tango remains in effect for moderate turbulence downwind of terrain due to the breezy trade winds. This will likely be needed for the next several days. AIRMET Sierra is in effect for mountain obscuration for windward portions of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island due to ongoing and upstream low clouds and showers. TEMPO light icing is also possible within a layer between 130-FL240 from Oahu to Big Island due to higher level clouds moving over the state today.
Recently, Kilauea produced an ash cloud reaching up to 35kft according to radar. A volcanic ash SIGMET under series Papa has been issued to cover the ash cloud.
Issued at 338 PM HST Sun Feb 15 2026
Sprawling 1045mb high anchored over the NE Pacific Basin is driving strong trades and localized near-gales over the waters this afternoon. Existing Gale Warning has been transitioned to a Small Craft Advisory based on the latest ASCAT and water-adjacent land observations. Governing high pressure weakens by late this week allowing trades to ease.
Observed surf along E shores solidly in the High Surf Advisory range where it will likely remain into mid-week. The HSA therefore remains in effect and may need to be extended into Wednesday as strong trades and fresh easterly trade wind swell persist.
Minimal energy anticipated out of the N, W, and S quadrants through the period. Surf along N and W facing exposures gets a small bump Wednesday and Thursday courtesy of a small, medium period NW swell.
High Surf Advisory until 6 AM HST Tuesday for Big Island East- Big Island North-Big Island Southeast-East Honolulu-Kauai East- Kauai South-Kipahulu-Koolau Windward-Maui Windward West-Molokai Southeast-Molokai Windward-Olomana-Windward Haleakala.
Ashfall Advisory until 10 PM HST this evening for Big Island East-Big Island Southeast.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Wednesday 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.
