Wet and windy weather will continue across the islands today, with conditions gradually improving this afternoon into tonight as winds ease and rainfall coverage and intensity diminishes. A more typical trade wind pattern will then follow Tuesday through late this week, although it will remain rather breezy.
A broad, nearly stationary surface high prevails north of the Hawaiian Islands while an elongated upper-level trough meanders easterly will aid in generating strong to near gale force trades across the islands today. Additionally, scattered rain and lowered ceilings across the state will lead to MVFR and localized IFR conditions at times. Otherwise, gusty trades will be the primary impact throughout the period.
AIRMET Sierra is in effect for mtn obsc for all islands.
AIRMET Tango is in effect for mod to isol turb across all islands and adjacent waters due to the weather system over the state up to FL380. Sustained winds in excess of 30 kt is also expected into Monday.
Light icing is expected in cloud layer 120-FL250 across the state.
A low pressure system southwest of the Hawaiian Islands slowly drifts westward as a strong high north of the state slowly drifts eastward. Wind speeds will weaken slightly through the day as both large scale pressure systems begin to move away from the island chain. Strong to gale force winds remain in the forecast today for both coastal and offshore waters, and a Gale Warning remains in effect through the afternoon hours for all Hawaiian waters. Fresh to locally strong easterly trade winds will linger in the forecast for all coastal waters with slight downward trends each day to Small Craft Advisory levels from Tuesday into Thursday.
These strong to gale force trade winds today will bring large and very rough surf along east facing shores lasting through tonight. A High Surf Warning remains in effect for exposed east facing shores through tonight. Surf heights along east facing shores will decline to advisory levels by Tuesday morning, then decline below advisory thresholds, yet remain rough from Tuesday night onward as trade winds ease across the region.
Small to moderate northwest swells will pass through the islands into the first half of next week. These smaller swells will keep surf heights on the smaller side. Looking into the extended forecast from the middle to the end of next week, we see a similar swell picture with no larger northwesterly swells for the foreseeable future.
Surf along south facing shores will remain small with some small background south swell energy expected over the next few days. Select southern exposures exposed to the wind swell will likely see some larger waves as well.
Flood Watch until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island East-Big Island Interior-Big Island North-Big Island South-Big Island Southeast-Central Oahu-East Honolulu-Ewa Plain-Haleakala Summit- Honolulu Metro-Kahoolawe-Kauai East-Kauai Mountains-Kauai North- Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Kipahulu-Kohala-Kona-Koolau Leeward- Koolau Windward-Lanai Leeward-Lanai Mauka-Lanai South-Lanai Windward-Maui Central Valley North-Maui Central Valley South- Maui Leeward West-Maui Windward West-Molokai Leeward South- Molokai North-Molokai Southeast-Molokai West-Molokai Windward- Niihau-Oahu North Shore-Olomana-South Haleakala-South Maui/Upcountry-Waianae Coast-Waianae Mountains-Windward Haleakala.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island Interior-Big Island North-Big Island South-Big Island Southeast- Central Oahu-East Honolulu-Ewa Plain-Honolulu Metro-Kahoolawe- Kauai East-Kauai Mountains-Kauai North-Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Kipahulu-Kohala-Koolau Leeward-Koolau Windward-Lanai Leeward-Lanai Mauka-Lanai South-Lanai Windward-Maui Central Valley North-Maui Central Valley South-Maui Leeward West-Maui Windward West-Molokai Leeward South-Molokai North-Molokai Southeast-Molokai West-Molokai Windward-Niihau-Oahu North Shore- Olomana-South Haleakala-South Maui/Upcountry-Waianae Coast- Waianae Mountains-Windward Haleakala.
High Surf Warning until 6 AM HST Tuesday for Big Island East-Big Island North-Big Island Southeast-East Honolulu-Kahoolawe-Kauai East-Kipahulu-Koolau Windward-Maui Windward West-Molokai Southeast-Molokai Windward-Olomana-South Haleakala-Windward Haleakala.
Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island Summits.
Gale Warning until 6 PM HST this evening 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.
