textproduct: Honolulu

SYNOPSIS

A strong high pressure system far north of the Hawaiian Islands will continue to produce moderate to breezy trade winds through Monday with periods of showers favoring windward mountain areas in the overnight to early morning hours. Hurricane Fausto remains on track to pass near the Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday and Wednesday as a tropical strom. A drier and breezy trade wind weather pattern will return across the state from Thursday onward as Fausto drifts westward away from the Hawaiian Islands.

DISCUSSION

A few bands of clouds continue to drift into the islands on the trade winds today, producing brief showers mainly along windward mountain areas.

East of the state Hurricane Fausto continues to march westward. Fausto remains on a high confidence track, keeping the center of the storm and the highest impacts passing north of the state. Additionally, the environment ahead of Fausto grows more unfavorable on approach to the islands and we expect Fausto to weaken into a tropical storm before arrival in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands. That said, we remain cautious at this stage that even subtle southern shifts in the track or delayed weakening trends may still produce changes to our island by island impacts. We strongly encourage the public to pay close attention to this passing storm system as weather impacts over the Hawaiian Islands early next week will likely evolve over time.

High confidence Fausto impacts...High surf possibly above warning thresholds for east facing shores from Monday through Tuesday. A High Surf Advisory is already in effect for east facing shores today. Lesser confidence impacts include...strong winds to around 40 MPH may develop near and north of the low center and possible heavy rain threats from Tuesday through Wednesday.

No time like the present to review your family hurricane preparedness plans, and ensure every household has at least a 14 day supply of food and water available if needed during this years active hurricane season.

A drier and more stable breezy trade wind pattern will fill in across the state from Thursday onward as Fausto continues to journey westward away from the Hawaiian Islands.

AVIATION

Breezy trades will continue to persist, but will likely weaken a notch and back towards a more northerly direction on Monday. Clouds and showers will continue to ride in with the breezy trades and will produce brief periods of MVFR ceilings at times, especially during the overnight period.

AIRMET Tango remains in effect for mod low- level turb downwind of island terrain. This AIRMET is likely to continue through tonight.

AIRMET Sierra has been cancelled due to conditions improving. MVFR ceilings could return tonight across windward areas.

MARINE

Fresh to locally strong trades will persist today then gradually shift to the NNE and diminish through the middle of the week in response to Hurricane Fausto passing north of the islands. The trades will then ramp back up to fresh and strong levels late this week into next weekend as Fausto continues off to the west- northwest away from the state while strong high pressure builds north of the islands. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the windier waters and channels around Maui and the Big Island through 6 PM this evening.

The current long-period south swell will hold steady at advisory levels through today, then begin a slow decline late this afternoon through the end of the week. South shore surf will remain elevated above the summertime average through the middle of the week, before declining by next weekend. A High Surf Advisory is now in effect for south facing shores through 6 PM this evening.

Currently east facing shores due to the locally strong trade winds will continue to support rough choppy surf. Additionally, NDBC Buoy 51004 located southeast of the islands has begun to rise quickly this morning with moderate long period east swell energy prompting a High Surf Advisory to be issued this morning for east facing shores through Wednesday afternoon. Energy from Hurricane Fausto is expected to build through today and potentially reach High Surf Warning levels by Monday night through early Wednesday. After a brief lull late Wednesday through Thursday, east shore surf will trend back up Friday into next weekend due to a combination of rising trade wind swell and a new long period east swell associated with Tropical Storm Genevieve moving in.

Surf along N shores remains flat to tiny today. Some increase is expected as Fausto or its remnants pass near the region Tuesday and Wednesday, with north shore surf returning to typical flat to tiny levels late Wednesday into next weekend.

HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST this evening for Niihau-Kauai Leeward-Waianae Coast-Kahoolawe-Maui Leeward West-Kona-Kauai South-East Honolulu-Honolulu Metro-Ewa Plain-Molokai Leeward South-Lanai Leeward-Lanai South-Maui Central Valley South-South Maui/Upcountry-South Haleakala-Big Island South-Big Island Southeast.

High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST Wednesday for Olomana-Maui Windward West-Kauai East-Koolau Windward-Molokai Windward- Molokai Southeast-Windward Haleakala-Kipahulu-Big Island East- Big Island North.

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