West Kaua’i

Tonight: Windy. Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows around 76 near the shore to around 66 above 3000 feet. Northeast winds up to 20 mph increasing to up to 30 mph after midnight. Gusts up to 50 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Saturday: Windy. Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Highs 86 to 91 near the shore to around 77 above 3000 feet. East winds up to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Windy. Lows around 75 near the shore to around 66 above 3000 feet. East winds up to 30 mph with gusts to 55 mph.

South Kaua’i

Tonight: Windy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 72 to 78. Northeast winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday: Windy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 80 to 89. Northeast winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Windy. Isolated showers after midnight. Lows 72 to 78. Northeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 55 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Kaua’i Mountains

Tonight: Windy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows around 71 in the valleys to around 63 above 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday: Windy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 74 to 82 in the valleys to around 68 above 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 30 mph increasing to 10 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 55 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday Night: Windy. Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows around 71 in the valleys to around 63 above 4000 feet. Northeast winds 10 to 30 mph with gusts to 60 mph shifting to the east up to 35 mph with gusts to 80 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 20 percent.

North Kaua’i

Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 67 to 76. East winds up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 70 to 87. East winds up to 20 mph increasing to 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 40 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday Night: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows 66 to 76. East winds up to 25 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

East Kaua’i

Tonight: Windy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 68 to 77. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph increasing to 10 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday: Windy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 78 to 86. Northeast winds 10 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday Night: Windy. Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows 68 to 78. Northeast winds 10 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Detailed Forecast

Synopsis

Hurricane Nolo continues to slowly move to the north towards the Big Island, and is expected to make a turn to the west tonight. Moisture on the north side of Nolo will interact with the terrain of the Big Island and Maui, and could lead to significant flash flooding, particularly on the windward and southeast portions of the Big Island. Localized strong and gust winds are possible statewide, with the highest winds expected on the Big Island due to the proximity to Nolo.

Discussion

High-level cloudiness with light showers prevailed across the Big Island this afternoon as Hurricane Nolo continues to move slowly north-northeast. The rest of the islands remained relatively quiet, aside from breeze conditions throughout the day.
Latest radar imagery shows rainbands associated with Nolo inching closer to the Big Island. These bands are expected to move through tonight into Saturday morning, producing periods of heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding and dangerous mudslides.
The latest National Hurricane Center track still indicates Nolo will make its closest approach late tonight before turning westward. Although forecast precipitation amounts for the state have been adjusted slightly downward, rainfall totals remain high enough to cause life-threatreninh flooding,especially across the Big Island. Other impacts are summarized in the marine and aviation sections.
Impacts from Nolo will worsen through tomorrow morning and persist through Saturday night. A slow improvement in weather conditions is expected on Sunday as Nolo moves away from the area.
By the middle of next week, troughing will draw Nolo north or northeastward to the west of Kauai. Toward the end of next week, light south-to-southeast wind flow is expected to prevail as the pressure gradient over the state weakens substantially.

Aviation

Gusty trade winds will continue across most of the islands into the weekend, with gusts peaking between 25 to 35 knots. Gusts up to 40 knots are possible at the windiest sites. For the western islands, occasional trade showers are likely to continue across windward and mauka areas, while heavier rain remains concentrated from Molokai through the Big Island as Hurricane Nolo passes south of the state. The highest potential for moderate to heavy rain remains across the Big Island, with reductions in ceilings and visibilities likely as shower activity becomes more frequent. Observations from Hilo this afternoon already show prolonged and widespread IFR conditions over eastern Big Island, and periods of IFR to LIFR conditions remain possible through Saturday. Thunderstorm chances remain low.
AIRMET Sierra has been issued for IFR conditions across eastern Big Island, and will likely remain in effect through tonight. Additionally, AIRMET Sierra remains in effect for tempo mountain obscuration for eastern Maui, and this will likely be needed through the night as well.
AIRMET Tango remains in effect for moderate turbulence downwind of island terrain due to breezy trade winds. Expect this to continue through the forecast period. It is possible that an AIRMET for sustained 30 kt winds will be needed for the Big Island by Saturday as Nolo passes to the south.
TC SIGMET Oscar series covers Hurricane Nolo, and interests should continue to monitor for updates to this SIGMET.

Marine

Hurricane Warnings around the Big Island and Tropical Storm Warnings around Maui County remain in effect as Hurricane Nolo inches northward. A Gale Watch is in effect for the remaining waters through Sunday. Nolo is still forecast to turn west well before reaching the Big Island or adjacent nearshore waters, but strong winds and high seas can nonetheless be expected well away from the storm itself.
South to southeast fresh swell emanating from Nolo will spread west across the southern nearshore waters as the system tracks west through early next week. The High Surf Advisory (HSA) for E and SE facing shores of the Big Island, Maui, and Molokai remains in effect and has been extended through Sunday. In addition, an HSA is now in effect for Kauai, Oahu, and Niihau beginning tonight due to strengthening trades. A small, long period NW swell fills in this weekend in maintenance of elevated surf along exposed shorelines into early next week.

Fire weather

Issued at 437 PM HST Fri Sep 25 2026
Winds will steadily increase as Hurricane Nolo moves closer. Very strong winds are possible on the Big Island, though heavy rainfall will likely mitigate fire danger over most areas. From Kauai to Maui County, rainfall over the last month has led to some improvement in fuels, but the gusty trade winds will produce moderate fire weather conditions over drier leeward areas through the weekend. Drier conditions are expected early next week, although winds will diminish substantially as pressure gradient weakens.

HFO Watches/Warnings/Advisories

Wind Advisory from 6 AM Saturday to 6 PM HST Sunday for Central Oahu, East Honolulu, Ewa Plain, Honolulu Metro, Kauai East, Kauai Mountains, Kauai North, Kauai South, Kauai Southwest, Koolau Leeward, Koolau Windward, Niihau, Oahu North Shore, Olomana, Waianae Coast, Waianae Mountains.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST Sunday for Kauai East, Kauai South, Koolau Windward, Olomana.
Flood Watch through Saturday afternoon for Big Island East, Big Island Interior, Big Island North, Big Island South, Big Island Southeast, Big Island Summits, Haleakala Summit, Kahoolawe, Kipahulu, Kohala, Kona, Lanai Leeward, Lanai Mauka, Lanai South, Lanai Windward, Maui Central Valley North, Maui Central Valley South, Maui Leeward West, Maui Windward West, Molokai Leeward South, Molokai North, Molokai Southeast, Molokai West, Molokai Windward, South Haleakala, South Maui/Upcountry, Windward Haleakala.
Tropical Storm Watch for Haleakala Summit, Kahoolawe, Kipahulu, Lanai Leeward, Lanai Mauka, Lanai South, Lanai Windward, Maui Central Valley North, Maui Central Valley South, Maui Leeward West, Maui Windward West, Molokai Leeward South, Molokai North, Molokai Southeast, Molokai West, Molokai Windward, South Haleakala, South Maui/Upcountry, Windward Haleakala.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST Sunday for Big Island East, Big Island North, Big Island Southeast, Kipahulu, Maui Windward West, Molokai Southeast, Molokai Windward, South Haleakala, Windward Haleakala.
Hurricane Watch for Big Island East, Big Island Interior, Big Island North, Big Island South, Big Island Southeast, Big Island Summits, Kohala, Kona.
Tropical Storm Warning for Big Island East, Big Island Interior, Big Island North, Big Island South, Big Island Southeast, Big Island Summits, Kohala, Kona.
Tropical Storm Watch for Kaiwi Channel, Maalaea Bay, Maui County Leeward Waters, Maui County Windward Waters, Pailolo Channel.
Hurricane Watch for Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Leeward Waters, Big Island Southeast Waters, Big Island Windward Waters.
Tropical Storm Warning for Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Leeward Waters, Big Island Southeast Waters, Big Island Windward Waters.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Saturday for Kauai Channel, Kauai Leeward Waters, Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Oahu Leeward Waters, Oahu Windward Waters.
Gale Watch from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon for Kauai Channel, Kauai Leeward Waters, Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Windward Waters, Oahu Leeward Waters, Oahu Windward Waters.

Kauai Now Weather is brought to you by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

Check out their Kaua‘i Helicopter Tours today!

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov