Hazy Again Today, Trade Winds Expected This Weekend

Haleakalā / Image: Chris Archer

By Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: [email protected]

Alerts

A High Surf Advisory is posted through 6:00 p.m. Saturday for the north and west facing shores of Moloka’i and the north shore of Maui. Surf from 12 to 16 feet is expected for the north exposures, while wave heights of 8 to 12 feet are expected for the west side of Moloka’i. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult and dangerous.

A Small Craft Advisory is posted for all Maui County waters (excluding Ma’alaea Bay and the Pailolo Channel) through 6:00 p.m. Saturday for rough seas of 6 to 13 feet. 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, Friday, January 16, 2015

Today we should get partly cloudy skies in Maui County with a slight chance of showers. We also expect hazy skies again, due to the light and variable winds forecasted up to 15 mph (see UHSOEST vog model above). Weaker winds mean a land and sea breeze pattern is likely to set up. As the land heats up, sea breezes are expected to develop which may lead to afternoon cloud cover and possible isolated light showers. High temperatures are expected to fall in the range of 81° to 86°.

Sunrise: 7:05 a.m.

Sunset: 6:06 p.m.

UV index at 7 (“high” exposure level)

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies and areas of haze. Leeward spots may be cloudy to start but are expected to clear as the land breeze takes hold. Isolated light showers are possible. Low temperatures from 65° to 70° degrees are expected at lower elevations. At higher elevations the low temperature will be colder. Light and variable winds up to 15 mph are forecasted.

Moonrise: 3:17 a.m.

Moonset: 2:46 p.m.

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

Next Full Moon: 1:09 p.m. on Feb. 3

Looking Ahead

A weak front that is expected to bring light showers to Kauai, is expected to block our trade winds for another couple of days. A ridge building northeast of the islands will bring gentle trade winds to the islands Saturday night and push the front back to the west. The ridge will move over the islands by the middle of next week bringing light south winds and more vog. Another front is expected to move over the islands late next week.

Almanac for Kahului Airport

Maximum Temperature for today:

Normal 81°

Record 88° / Set in 1953 and tied in 1980

Minimum Temperature for today:

Normal 63°

Record 53° / Set in 1985

**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: UHSOEST

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS