Kaua‘i sees below average rain in June as dry season intensifies

After a rainy May across most of the state, the 2024 dry season kicked into high gear during June.

Rainfall totals for Kaua‘i were near to below average at most of the gauges, according to the monthly precipitation summary from the National Weather Service. The U.S. Geological Survey’s rain gauge on Mount Waiʻaleʻale had the highest monthly total of 22.90 inches (70% of average) and the highest daily total of 2.69 inches on June 21.

The North Wailua Ditch rain gauge, also operated by the USGS, posted its lowest June total since 2012.

Despite the dry conditions last month, nearly all of the gauges on Kauaʻi continued to show near to above-average rainfall for 2024 through the end of June. The Mount Waiʻaleʻale rain gauge had the highest year-to-date total of 197.03 inches (105% of average).

Trade winds persisted through the entire month, but nearly broke down from June 5 through 8 as a surface ridge of high pressure settled in just north of the island chain. The ridge strengthened and shifted north by June 10, resulting in an increase in trade wind speeds back up to moderate to fresh levels.

On June 18, the trade winds intensified and reached fresh to strong levels. Wind speeds remained at these levels through June 22. An area of enhanced showers embedded within the trade wind flow produced the wettest day of the month for several locations along the windward slopes of the state.

On June 29, a low-pressure system aloft moved in from the east and destabilized the atmosphere over Maui County and the Big Island. Due to the enhanced instability, heavy rainfall developed during the late afternoon over the Kona slopes of the Big Island and over the Upcountry region of Maui near Kēōkea and ʻUlupalakua.

The rainfall dissipated after a few hours without causing significant flooding problems. The low-pressure system aloft continued moving west and helped trigger brief isolated heavy rainfall over the interior of Kauaʻi on June 30. This rainfall also did not produce any significant impacts.

Many areas had below-average rainfall, even along the normally rainy windward slopes.