Improving Weather For Christmas Day

Double Rainbow from Kihei looking toward Up Country / Image: Malika Dudley

By Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: [email protected]

Alerts

A High Surf Advisory has been posted for the north facing shores of Molokaʻi and Maui until 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Beaches in the advisory area will experience rip currents and localized beach erosion. Surf is expected to be in the 10 to 15 foot range along affected shorelines.

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for most Maui County waters through 6:00 p.m. Wednesday. Winds of 25 to 30 knots are expected and rough seas from 9 to 17 feet.

**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, Thursday, December 25, 2014

Today we expect partly to mostly sunny skies with scattered morning showers for windward and mauka areas and in leeward spots. A gradual improving trend is expected as a disturbance continue to slowly move away from the Hawaiian Islands. High temperatures should fall in the range of 78° to 83° and around 69° at 5000 feet. Winds are expected out of the northwest around 15 mph with higher gusts.

Sunrise: 7:00 a.m.

Sunset: 5:52 p.m.

UV index at 6 (“high” exposure level)

Tonight

Mostly clear skies tonight with isolated showers. Winds are expected out of the northwest around 15 mph. Low temperatures from 67° to 72° degrees are expected with a low of about 52° at 5000 feet.

Moonrise: 10:09 a.m.

Moonset: 10:08 p.m.

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

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

Looking Ahead

The disturbance that has been creating the potential for severe weather is expected to slowly lift northeast and away from the Hawaiian islands over the next couple of days. Drier conditions are expected in its wake. Cool northerly winds are expected to shift out of the northeast and bring more typical trade wind weather starting late in the weekend. The wind forecast is iffy over the next couple of days as a weather situation is still developing. Look out for updates to the short term wind forecast as things begin to become more certain. Another cold front is forecasted for the middle of next week.

Almanac for Kahului Airport

Maximum Temperature for today:

Normal 81°

Record 87° / Set in 1992 and tied in 2004

Minimum Temperature for today:

Normal 64°

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: NOAA / NWS