Gust of 52 mph on Lāna’i Yesterday, Still Gusty Today

Haleakalā Moon / Image: Chris Archer

By Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: [email protected]

Alerts

The National Weather Service has extended the Wind Advisory through Monday at 6 p.m. Northeast winds from 20 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are expected. The strongest winds in Maui County are expected in the lee of mauka areas, across much of Lānaʻi and Moloka’i. On Maui, through the Central Valley from Wailuku to Maʻalaea harbor. Winds this strong can bring down tree branches and make driving difficult.

The National Weather Service has continued the Gale Warning for Maʻalaea Bay and the Pailolo and ʻAlenuihāhā channels. The warning is in effect through Monday at 6 p.m. Beginning this morning, east winds of 30 to 35 knots are expected with higher gusts. Rough seas of 12 to 17 feet are also forecasted. The largest waves are expected to begin tonight after midnight. A Gale Warning means that these winds are imminent or occurring. Operating a vessel in gale conditions requires proper experience and equipment. Mariners without these things should remain in port until gale conditions end.

All areas not under the Gale Warning are under a Small Craft Advisory through 6 p.m. Monday for all Maui County waters and channels.  Rough seas of 10 to 17 feet are forecasted along with winds of 30 to 35 knots or more. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.

**Click directly on the images below to make them larger. Charts include: Maui County high/low forecasted temperatures, projected winds, chance of cloud cover, projected localized weather conditions and expected wave heights.**

Today, Monday December 15, 2014

Yesterday wind gusts reached 52 mph in Lāna’i City, 37 mph for Kahului and 36 mph at the Moloka’i airport. Today winds will be down a notch but still gusty out of the northeast from 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts. Partly to mostly cloudy skies are expected today. High temperatures should fall in the range of 80° to 85° and around 72° at 5000 feet.

Sunrise: 6:55 a.m.

Sunset: 5:47 p.m.

UV index at 6 (“high” exposure level)

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies are expected tonight in Maui County. Winds are expected out of the northeast from 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts. Low temperatures from 67° to 73° degrees in Maui County and about 49° at 5000 feet.

Moonset: 1:15 p.m.

Moonrise: 1:55 a.m. on Dec 16

Next New Moon: Dec. 21 at 3:36 p.m.

Next Full Moon: Jan. 4 at 6:54 p.m.

The peak nights for the Geminid Meteor Shower have passed but the shower is still active until December 19. Details on timing and viewing tips can be found HERE. 

Looking Ahead

Winds will be strongest where winds funnel, go downslope on the leeward sides and over coastal waters and channels. Gusty winds are expected at least through Monday morning. On Tuesday wind speeds are expected to ease slightly and the weather is forecasted to get back to more normal trade wind conditions. The next cold front should pass north of the state with little effect around midweek, then a new weaker high passing to our north should maintain moderate to locally breezy trades through next Friday. We may get enhanced showers on Wednesday and Thursday.

Almanac for Kahului Airport

Maximum Temperature for today:

Normal 82°

Record 88° / Set in 1949

Minimum Temperature for today:

Normal 65°

Record 55° / Set in 1953

**Click here for your detailed Maui County surf report.**

Image; NOAA / NWS

Image; NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: UHSOEST

Image: NOAA / NWS