textproduct: Honolulu

SYNOPSIS

A drier air mass with lower humidity, sunny skies and light to moderate winds expected through Sunday. Isolated showers possible windward and mauka spots. Winds should decrease early next week allowing land and sea breezes to develop.

DISCUSSION

Looking at satellite and radar imagery this morning, isolated showers are ongoing along windward and mauka spots across the state. High pressure is expected to build back over the state dropping humidity levels and ushering in sunny skies through Sunday.

Early next week, trades will weaken in response to an approaching surface trough and then will weaken further heading into midweek as broad troughing develops northwest of the state. In this lighter flow, land and sea breezes will develop with clearing expected overnight and clouds and a few showers over leeward and interior areas each afternoon.

AVIATION

The high pressure ridge will build back over the Hawaii region with drier easterly trade wind weather returning just in time for the weekend. Lower humidity levels and mostly sunny skies will prevail through Sunday.

No AIRMETs in effect.

MARINE

Gentle to fresh east to northeast trade winds fill back in today as Hurricane Nolo accelerates westward away from the Hawaiian Islands and high pressure strengthens gradually to the north. A Small Craft Advisory has been issued, in effect beginning tonight, when locally strong trades are forecast to develop for the typically windy waters and channels. Locally strong trades may persist into early next week before high pressure to the north weakens again and winds start to diminish. By the middle of next week, troughing developing northwest of the islands may cause winds to veer out of the southeast once again.

A small background south swell will surf mostly steady along south facing shores through the weekend. A new small, long-period south swell, originating from a large fetch of gale force winds southeast of New Zealand earlier this week, is forecast to arrive beginning Sunday and peak Monday through Wednesday. This will push surf to slightly above seasonal averages for the first half of next week.

A small bump in surf along north-facing shores will decrease today as a small, short period north swell fades. Another small bump in north shore surf is possible early next week as a small, medium-period northwest swell arrives late Sunday and peaks on Monday. This will be followed by a slightly larger long-period northwest swell peaking on Wednesday, giving a good boost to north shore surf for mid-week. Surf along east facing shores will increase and become more choppy through tonight as easterly trades build back into the region.

FIRE WEATHER

Drier air is expected over the weekend as light to moderate east- northeasterly trades return. Winds are expected to decrease early to midweek. Isolated showers will favor windward and mauka areas overnight into the early morning hours. Fire weather conditions will remain below critical threshold this week for both wind and humidity levels. Temperature inversion heights are around 5000-7000ft.

HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM HST Sunday for Maalaea Bay-Pailolo Channel-Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters.