Photo Credit: Jason Weingardt

West Kaua’i

Today: Sunny. Highs around 85 near the shore to around 72 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 67 near the shore to around 57 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

Monday: Sunny. Highs around 85 near the shore to around 72 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

South Kaua’i

Today: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Highs 77 to 85. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Isolated showers after midnight. Lows around 68. Northeast winds around 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Isolated showers in the morning. Highs 78 to 85. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Kaua’i Mountains

Today: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 71 to 79 in the valleys to around 63 above 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 15 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Breezy. Isolated showers in the evening, then scattered showers after midnight. Lows 61 to 66 in the valleys to around 55 above 4000 feet. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Monday: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Scattered showers in the morning, then isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 72 to 79 in the valleys to around 63 above 4000 feet. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

North Kaua’i

Today: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the morning. Highs 73 to 84. East winds up to 15 mph shifting to the northeast in the afternoon. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Isolated showers in the evening, then scattered showers after midnight. Lows 61 to 71. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Monday: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 73 to 85. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

East Kaua’i

Today: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the morning. Highs 71 to 82. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows 61 to 72. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Monday: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 71 to 82. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Detailed Forecast

Synopsis

Moderate trade winds will hold today with breezy to locally strong trades returning from Monday onward. An increase in moisture is anticipated Tuesday into the middle of the week, especially for the windward areas of Maui County and the Big Island, where showery conditions remain in the forecast.

Discussion

Hawaii radar imagery shows brief passing showers are drifting in on the moderate trade winds this morning. These relatively stable light showers will decrease in coverage just after sunrise as more stable high pressure begins to fill in over the islands. A high pressure center will build into the Hawaii region just north of the islands later tonight. Responding trade winds will increase into the breezy to locally windy range for much of this week. Passing showers are forecast, mainly along windward slopes in the overnight to early morning hours, as trade wind speeds increase from Monday through Tuesday.
From Tuesday night into Thursday morning, model guidance continues to suggest that a small band of unstable clouds will move from northeast to southwest across all islands. Expect increasing shower trends, favoring windward and mountain areas. The bulk of these enhanced showers are expected to fall over East Maui and the windward slopes of the Big Island. From Thursday onward, typical trade wind weather will continue for the rest of the week.
Wind speeds over the highest summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa of the Big Island have fallen over the past six hours below wind advisory thresholds. Forecast guidance continues to show decreasing wind speed trends at summit level, therefore the Wind Advisory for the Big Island summits was cancelled with the morning forecast package.

Aviation

Light to locally moderate trade winds will continue through tonight and into the coming week. Bands of low clouds and light to moderate rain showers will impact mainly windward and mauka areas. Brief MVFR ceilings and visibility are to be expected in passing showers, otherwise VFR conditions will prevail all areas.

Marine

High pressure north-northwest of the state will drift east and keep trade winds moderate to fresh today. The ridge of high pressure should rebuild late tonight, which should produce fresh to locally strong trade winds once again. A Small Craft Advisory for the typical windy waters around Maui County and the Big Island is likely to be issued tonight through the week as trade winds look to remain dominant.
A moderate medium period north swell has begun to rise at the nearshore PacIOOS buoy 51201 overnight bringing an increase in surf for north facing shores today. This swell will peak later today below High Surf Advisory levels and steadily decline Monday. Surf along east facing shores will remain small today, except for shores exposed to the north swell which could see a slight rise. As the trades strengthen early this week, short period wind waves will bring elevated seas. South facing shores will continue at small levels as a series of small, medium to long period energy will persist over the next several days.

HFO Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov