Photo Credit: Braden Jarvis

West Kaua’i

Today: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Scattered showers. Highs around 85 near the shore to around 75 above 3000 feet. South winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Scattered showers early in the evening, then isolated showers in the late evening and overnight. Lows 67 to 72 near the shore to around 58 above 3000 feet. Light winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs around 85 near the shore to around 75 above 3000 feet. East winds up to 10 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon. Chance of rain 20 percent.

South Kaua’i

Today: Mostly sunny with scattered showers. Highs around 84. Light winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Partly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 67 to 73. Northeast winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Friday: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs around 84. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Kaua’i Mountains

Today: Mostly cloudy with numerous showers. Highs 73 to 79 in the valleys to around 68 above 4000 feet. Light winds. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Scattered showers. Lows around 62 in the valleys to around 54 above 4000 feet. Light winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Friday: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Scattered showers. Highs 73 to 79 in the valleys to around 68 above 4000 feet. East winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

North Kaua’i

Today: Partly sunny. Numerous showers in the morning, then scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs 75 to 84. Light winds. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Scattered showers. Lows 62 to 70. Light winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the morning, then scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs 75 to 84. East winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

East Kaua’i

Today: Partly sunny with scattered showers. Highs 75 to 84. South winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 60 to 73. Light winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Friday: Partly sunny. Scattered showers in the morning, then isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 75 to 85. East winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Detailed Forecast

Synopsis

A trough of low pressure will slowly shift west today through Friday, allowing a gradual return of trade winds from east to west across the state. Rather dry conditions will prevail for most areas, although Kauai should see a few more showers today and tonight. Rather dry trade wind weather will then prevail Friday through the middle of next week, with mainly windward and mauka showers and very little shower activity reaching leeward communities.

Discussion

Currently at the surface, a nearly stationary trough of low pressure is located over Kauai, with a 1019 high to the distant northwest and a 1030 mb high to the distant northeast. Light winds prevail, with land breezes present statewide. Infrared satellite imagery shows mostly cloud conditions over much of Kauai and Oahu, with partly cloudy skies in most other locales. Radar imagery shows a few showers around Kauai and the Big Island, with very little shower activity elsewhere. Main short term focus revolves around rain chances and the returning trade winds.
The trough of low pressure will retrograde slowly westward today through Friday, allowing trade winds to gradually return from east to west across the state. Moderate trade winds should overspread the island chain by Friday night, then hold in place through Tuesday with only minor fluctuations in strength from day to day. The trades should ease again around the middle of next week as a new front approaches from the north.
As for the remaining weather details, lingering moisture around Kauai will likely result in higher coverage of showers today and tonight. Rather dry weather is expected elsewhere, with a few showers developing over interior and leeward areas this afternoon, and moving into windward slopes and coasts tonight. A more typical, yet drier than normal, trade wind pattern will begin to return for Friday, with showers favoring windward and mauka areas. Localized sea breezes will also bring the potential for a few leeward and interior showers during the afternoon once again. Rather dry trade wind weather will then prevail Friday night through the middle of next week, with mainly windward and mauka showers and very little shower activity reaching leeward communities.

Aviation

Light and variable flow will persist through the remainder of the this morning.
A weak front near Kauai will bring scattered showers to Kauai and surrounding waters through the forecast period. Elsewhere across the state, mainly dry conditions are expected. Trade winds return by this afternoon from east to west across the region and could bring a return of isolated showers to windward locations.
No AIRMETS are currently in effect.

Marine

Light southeasterly to variable winds will continue through today. High pressure north of the islands then builds eastward bringing a return to moderate trades by Friday and locally fresh trades for the weekend.
A moderate northwest, medium period swell will build and peak during the morning hours as it goes down the island chain from northwest to southeast. Offshore buoy 51101 swell height peaked near 9 feet last night, transitioned towards the north, and has been on the decline through the night. This will translate to the swell dropping rather quickly Friday and into the weekend.
Surf along south facing shores will maintain small surf through the weekend as a small long period southwest swell will build over south facing shores Friday into the weekend. Surf along east- facing shores will remain small until trades return this weekend, but as this northwesterly swell clocks more north, exposed shorelines on the east sides may see swell energy wrap today into Friday.

HFO Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov