Scattered Windward Showers, Winds Pick Up Tonight

Alerts

A Small Craft Advisory is posted through 6 a.m. Wednesday for the Alenuihaha channel and Big Island southeast and leeward waters. Rough seas up to 11 feet and winds of 20 to 25 knots. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.

**Click directly on the images below to make them larger. Charts include: Big Island high/low forecasted temperatures, projected winds, chance of cloud cover, projected localized weather conditions, vog/SO2 forecast and expected wave heights.**

Today,  Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Today is expected to be mostly cloudy for windward and mauka areas with scattered showers likely mainly in the morning. Some afternoon clearing is forecasted. For the Kona side mostly clear skies are forecasted in the morning before mostly cloudy skies build in the afternoon possibly bringing an isolated shower or two. Winds are out of the northeast from 10 to 15 mph. The UHSOEST vog model is forecasting areas of afternoon vog mainly for the Kona side and down south, the morning looks clear for most spots. High temperatures should fall in the range of 80° to 85° and around 70° at 5000 feet.

Sunrise: 6:48 a.m.

Sunset: 5:45 p.m.

UV index at 6 (“high” exposure level)

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies and breezy conditions are expected tonight for the Big Island. Winds will be picking up around 15 to 20mph with higher gusts. Low temperatures from 68° to 74° degrees.

Moonset: 2:30 p.m.

Moonrise: 3:33 a.m. on Dec 18

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 

High pressure, the weather feature that generates our trade winds, is moving away from the islands and as that happens our winds have weakened. Another high pressure system will move in this evening bringing our winds back up to breezy overnight and into Thursday. Over the weekend we expect winds to shift out of the southeast. A front is expected to impact the state early next week. Will keep an eye on it.

Almanac for Hilo Airport

Maximum Temperature for today: 

Normal 79°

Record 86° / Set in 1967

Minimum Temperature for today:

Normal 65°

Record 59° / Set in 1955 and tied in 1989

**Click here for your detailed Big Island 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