Issued at 840 PM HST Thu Jan 29 2026
A weak cold front, currently moving through the islands of Kauai and Niihau this evening will continue to spread clouds and enhanced showers to the other islands from Friday through Saturday as the frontal cloud band slowly drifts eastward down the island chain. Moderate to breezy north to northeast winds will build behind the front. Another stronger front is forecast to approach later in the weekend, bringing breezy southwesterly winds late Sunday through Monday. More significant showers will develop along this next frontal band as these clouds and showers March eastward down the island chain from late Monday through Tuesday. Expect cool and dry, breezy northwesterly to northerly winds to blow into the region after the front passes each island.
Issued at 359 PM HST Thu Jan 29 2026
Pre-frontal convergence low clouds and isolated showers expected across Oahu and Maui County this afternoon. AIRMET Sierra is posted for tempo mountain obscurations above 3000 feet across of Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Sea breezes will switch to land breezes tonight and clear the cloud cover out over the islands, with AIRMET Sierra ending around this time.
An incoming weak front from the northwest will approach this evening and is expected to bring an increase in showers over Kauai late tonight and spread southeastward Friday. MVFR and lower ceilings are expected along the front over windward and northern slopes as the front moves towards Maui and stalls. North winds will build tonight along the front and veer northeast by Friday afternoon.
Issued at 840 PM HST Thu Jan 29 2026
A band of low level clouds and showers associated with a weak front will move southeast over the island chain tonight before dissipating over the eastern half of the state Friday. Light and variable winds will be replaced by moderate to fresh northerly to northeasterly winds in the wake of the front as it passes each island. Light and variable winds 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.
Offshore buoys show a large northwest swell filling in. Based on recent buoy observations and model guidance, the High Surf Advisory has been expanded to now include north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai, north facing shores of Maui, and west facing shores of the Big Island. Expect surf heights associated with this initial swell to peak overnight into Friday morning. Seas will also rise above 10 feet, thus a Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains in effect. The SCA has also been expanded a bit eastward with this evening's updates.
A bigger, and longer period northwest (300-320 degree) swell is expected to overlap Friday. This second swell is expected to peak Friday afternoon and evening, pushing surf heights above warning levels into Saturday for select north and west facing shores. In addition, the SCA will also expand to most coastal waters with this next swell. The large northwest swells will decline Saturday into early next week. A potentially extra large northwest (310-330 degree) swell may fill in from Tuesday onward 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 Advisory until 6 PM HST Friday for Niihau-Kauai Leeward-Waianae Coast-Oahu North Shore-Maui Windward West-Kona- Kohala-Kauai North-Molokai Windward-Molokai North-Molokai West- Maui Central Valley North-Windward Haleakala.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Friday for Kauai Northwest Waters-Kauai Windward Waters-Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Channel- Oahu Windward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Maui County Windward Waters.
