West Kaua’i

Tonight: Mostly clear. Isolated showers in the evening. Lows around 63 near the shore to around 53 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Isolated showers in the morning. Highs around 78 near the shore to around 66 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds up to 20 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 64 near the shore to around 53 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds up to 15 mph.

South Kaua’i

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Scattered showers. Lows around 63. Northeast winds around 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Scattered showers in the morning. Highs 72 to 78. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows around 64. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Kaua’i Mountains

Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with numerous showers. Lows 55 to 61 in the valleys to around 51 above 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with scattered showers in the morning, then mostly sunny with isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 65 to 73 in the valleys to around 57 above 4000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 55 to 62 in the valleys to around 51 above 4000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

North Kaua’i

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Numerous showers in the evening, then scattered showers after midnight. Lows 56 to 66. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with scattered showers in the morning, then mostly sunny with isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 68 to 77. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Scattered showers in the evening, then isolated showers after midnight. Lows 57 to 66. Southeast winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

East Kaua’i

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Numerous showers in the evening, then scattered showers after midnight. Lows 56 to 67. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with scattered showers in the morning, then mostly sunny with isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 65 to 76. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers in the evening, then isolated showers after midnight. Lows 57 to 68. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Detailed Forecast

Synopsis

An upper level ridge will move in and bring a return to cooler trades through Thursday. Winds will veer to southeast Friday and remain that way into the weekend, bringing warmer temperatures and a sea- and land-breeze pattern. Sunday night into early next week has the potential for another boundary to move through with some wet weather. Moderate to breezy trade winds will blow across the region with decreasing shower trends as high pressure builds in through Thursday. Winds begin to weaken and veer more southeasterly from Friday into the weekend ahead of the next cold front approaching the islands from the west.

Short term update

Issued at 932 AM HST Tue Feb 24 2026
We are in a rather typical trade wind regime with a large surface high north of the islands. Windward and mauka showers are showing up on radar, and occasionally making it to leeward areas. Northeasterly to easterly trades are expected to continue through Thursday, with showers mainly windward and mauka. Winds will veer and become southeasterly Friday as an upper level trough to our northwest approaches (but stays north of the area). An uptick in showers is expected Sunday through Monday night as an area of enhanced moisture works its way east to west through the state. We will be doing an update this morning to increase the chance of showers in most areas today through tomorrow.

Prev discussion

Issued at 317 AM HST Tue Feb 24 2026
As of 3am radars show scattered showers moving across the island chain. Mostly along windward and mauka locations. Breezy trade winds are ongoing and are expected to remain over the area through Thursday. This will bring additional showers over the next few days, mainly windward and mauka.
An upper level ridge will finally replace the trough that has brought significant rains to the area in recent days. Today through Thursday we will see a typical trade wind pattern. Drier and cooler air will be advected into the region. This will allow for cool mornings in areas sheltered from the trades.
As the upper level ridge axis moves east of the state Thursday night into Friday, our low level flow will veer and become more southeasterly. This will begin to slowly increase low-level moisture. As wind speeds weaken, sea- and land-breezes will develop this coming weekend. This pattern typically results in showers forming both windward and leeward. Long range models show the potential for a boundary to bring an increase in showers Sunday night into Monday of next week.

Aviation

Issued at 932 AM HST Tue Feb 24 2026
Windward showers continue for the Big Island, while gradual clearing takes place across the rest of the island chain. Isolated windward showers may occur across the rest of the islands during the day today, however confidence was low so only made mention of VCSH across these sites. Otherwise, NE winds will continue to trend downward through the period.
AIRMET Sierra is in effect for windward Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.

Marine

Issued at 317 AM HST Tue Feb 24 2026
Strong high pressure remains far north of the state, while a weakening surface trough lingers in the far southeast offshore waters. Northeasterly trade winds look to strengthen to fresh to strong speeds through tonight before gradually easing to locally strong speeds over just the windier waters and channels around Maui County and the Big Island Wednesday and Thursday. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been expanded to all coastal waters and extended through tonight due to a combination of winds and mainly seas above SCA criteria due to the large north northeast swell currently impacting the islands. An approaching front will likely cause winds to decline and veer out of the southeast Thursday night into Saturday.
A large, long period north-northeast (010-030 deg) swell has peaked early this morning and will look to hold through the morning hours before declining through the end of the week. This swell will produce breaking waves at High Surf Warning levels across most north and east facing shores through this afternoon. Due to the direction of the large swell, exposed west facing shores of West Maui, western Molokai, and North Kohala on the Big Island will likely experience High Surf Advisory conditions. The north- northeast swell will gradually decline tonight at High Surf Advisory (HSA) level conditions through Wednesday before continuing to decline through Friday. In addition to this swell, a small pulse of overlapping west- northwest swell is expected through Wednesday.
Due to the direction of the large north-northeast (010-030) swell, some overwash will be possible along low-lying coastal roads and infrastructure in windward areas, especially in the Keaukaha area east of Hilo. Hazardous conditions and heavy surges are expected in north facing harbors, mainly in Hilo and Kahului, and a Marine Weather Statement remains in place to highlight this threat.
South facing shores will remain tiny today due to a small background southwest swell before flat wintertime surf will continue along south facing shores through the end of the week week.

HFO Watches/Warnings/Advisories

High Surf Warning until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island East, Big Island North, Kauai East, Kauai North, Koolau Windward, Maui Central Valley North, Maui Windward West, Molokai North, Molokai Windward, Niihau, Oahu North Shore, Olomana, Windward Haleakala.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST this evening for Kohala, Lanai Windward, Maui Leeward West, Molokai West.
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.

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Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov