Front Could Bring Thunderstorms

By Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: malika@mauinow.com

Alerts

Flooding weather alerts will be posted HERE throughout the duration of the event.

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service from 6:00 p.m. tonight to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday. Locally heavy rain may produce rainfall amounts of 3 inches or more. If this occurs in a short period of time flash flooding may occur. Excessive runoff may produce rock and mudslides in steep terrain and fast flowing water may create life threatening situations.

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.

A High Surf Warning is in effect for the north facing shores of Maui and Moloka’i (and also the west shores of Moloka’i) through 6:00 a.m. Tuesday for a large west-northwest swell. Warning level surf is expected for Maui County through the day Monday with 20 to 30 foot faces expected. The west side of Moloka’i is forecasted to get 15 to 20 foot faces Monday as well.

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for all Maui County waters from 4:00 a.m. Sunday through 6:00 a.m. Tuesday as well.

**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 22, 2014

Gusty conditions are expected today with northeast winds from 15 to 25 mph gusting to 35 mph. A slight chance for thunderstorms exists today. Early on fair conditions are expected. Numerous showers are expected in windward spots as a front moves through. Scattered showers are in the forecast for lee spots especially in the afternoon. High temperatures should fall in the range of 76° to 81° and around 67° at 5000 feet.

Sunrise: 6:59 a.m.

Sunset: 5:50 p.m.

UV index at 6 (“high” exposure level)

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies are expected tonight in Maui County with scattered thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall can accompany these thunderstorms and showers are likely. For leeward areas scattered showers are expected in the evening with likely showers after midnight. Winds are out of the northeast from 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Low temperatures from 66° to 71° degrees are expected with a low of about 52° at 5000 feet.

Moonset: 7:01 p.m.

Moonrise: 8:27 a.m. on Dec 23

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

Next New Moon: Jan. 20 at 3:14 a.m.

Looking Ahead

A cold front currently moving down the island chain. It is forecasted to reach the Big Island by Wednesday morning. It is expected to bring widespread showers and strong trade winds. Rainfall will be modest at first but instability high in the atmosphere may produce locally heavy showers, or even thunderstorms Monday night. Gentle north winds ahead of the feature will shift and become strong north or northeast winds as the feature passes by. Rainfall amounts will begin to taper off on Christmas eve. Trade winds will gradually weaken through the second half of the week.

Almanac for Kahului Airport

Maximum Temperature for today:

Normal 81°

Record 89° / Set in 1952

Minimum Temperature for today:

Normal 65°

Record 53° / Set in 1969

**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: NOAA / NWS