Photo Credit: Sebastien Gabriel

West Kaua’i

Today: Breezy. Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs around 87 near the shore to around 77 above 3000 feet. East winds up to 25 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Breezy. Isolated showers in the evening. Lows 70 to 75 near the shore to around 61 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Highs around 87 near the shore to around 77 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds up to 20 mph.

South Kaua’i

Today: Partly sunny. Breezy. Showers likely in the morning, then scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs around 86. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Scattered showers in the evening, then isolated showers after midnight. Lows 68 to 74. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Saturday: Partly sunny. Breezy. Isolated showers in the morning. Highs around 86. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Kaua’i Mountains

Today: Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Occasional showers in the morning, then scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs 73 to 81 in the valleys to around 70 above 4000 feet. East winds 10 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.

Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 61 to 66 in the valleys to around 56 above 4000 feet. East winds up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Scattered showers in the morning, then isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 73 to 81 in the valleys to around 70 above 4000 feet. East winds up to 20 mph increasing to 10 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.

North Kaua’i

Today: Breezy. Partly sunny with scattered showers. Highs 76 to 86. East winds up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers in the evening, then isolated showers after midnight. Lows 64 to 74. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Saturday: Partly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 76 to 86. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

East Kaua’i

Today: Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Showers likely in the morning, then scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs 75 to 86. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers in the evening, then isolated showers after midnight. Lows 62 to 75. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Saturday: Breezy. Partly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 75 to 86. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Detailed Forecast

Synopsis

Strong trade winds will persist into next week, bringing brief showers to windward and mauka areas. Fewer leeward clouds are expected over the weekend, while the Kona slopes will receive their typical summertime afternoon/evening clouds and showers.

Discussion

A westward-moving mid-level trough at 700 mb will continue to enhance windward and mauka low clouds and showers this morning. Guidance continues to show the trough dissipating tonight into Saturday. Breezy to locally windy trades will prevail into next week as the surface ridge remains far north of the islands. ENE trade winds will deliver low clouds and brief showers to windward and mauka areas through the forecast period as the atmosphere stabilizes. Leeward areas will remain mostly dry, but Kona slopes of the Big Island will see their typical summertime afternoon and evening clouds and showers. May see an uptick in windward clouds and showers late next week as a weak upper level disturbance develops north of the state.

Aviation

A weak disturbance moving through the islands will enhance low clouds, and windward showers. Breezy to locally windy trades will continue for the next few of days, with passing showers favoring windward and mountain areas. Mostly VFR conditions will prevail, with brief periods of MVFR in showers/low clouds mainly in the overnight to early morning hours.
AIRMET Sierra for tempo mountain obscuration remains in effect for north through east sections of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island. These low cloud ceilings will improve later this morning.
AIRMET Tango for low-level turbulence over and in the lee of island terrain will remain in effect for the next several days due to the strong trades.

Marine

Strong- to near gale-force east to northeast trades with seas up to the 10 ft advisory level will continue through early next week as the ridge holds strong to the north. The strong trades could ease slightly later next week as the ridge weakens.
Surf along east facing shores will remain rough through early next week due to the strong trades locally and upstream of the state. A downward trend is possible around midweek as the upstream fetch weakens and the local trades begin to ease.
Surf along south facing shores will remain up as overlapping south-southwest swells move through. A fresh south-southwest that has filled in will result in an gradually upward trend through Saturday. A more significant south swell will gradually fill in late Saturday night into Sunday, then likely reach the advisory level late Sunday through Monday. A gradual downward trend is expected Tuesday through midweek.

HFO Watches/Warnings/Advisories

Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Saturday for all Hawaiian waters,

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov