Hilo

Today: Mostly cloudy. Showers likely in the morning, then scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs around 85 near the shore to 70 to 75 at 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows around 67 near the shore to around 53 at 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the northwest after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with scattered showers. Highs around 85 near the shore to 70 to 75 at 4000 feet. North winds up to 15 mph shifting to the northeast in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Kona

Today: Partly sunny. Scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs 83 to 88 near the shore to around 70 near 5000 feet. West winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows 68 to 74 near the shore to around 54 near 5000 feet. Light winds. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly sunny with scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs 83 to 88 near the shore to around 70 near 5000 feet. West winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Waimea

Today: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs around 83 near the shore to 70 to 80 near 3000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows around 67 near the shore to 55 to 61 near 3000 feet. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Scattered showers. Highs around 83 near the shore to 70 to 80 near 3000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Kohala

Today: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs around 83 near the shore to 70 to 80 near 3000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows around 67 near the shore to 55 to 61 near 3000 feet. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Scattered showers. Highs around 83 near the shore to 70 to 80 near 3000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

South Big Island

Today: Partly sunny. Breezy. Scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs around 87 near the shore to around 74 near 5000 feet. East winds up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows around 69 near the shore to around 52 near 5000 feet. Northeast winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny in the morning, then partly sunny with scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs around 87 near the shore to around 74 near 5000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Puna

Today: Mostly cloudy. Showers likely in the morning, then scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs around 85 near the shore to 70 to 75 at 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows around 67 near the shore to around 53 at 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the northwest after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with scattered showers. Highs around 85 near the shore to 70 to 75 at 4000 feet. North winds up to 15 mph shifting to the northeast in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Waikoloa

Today: Partly sunny. Scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs around 87 near the shore to 71 to 77 above 4000 feet. North winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows 69 to 74 near the shore to 50 to 57 above 4000 feet. East winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tuesday: Sunny in the morning, then partly sunny with scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs around 87 near the shore to 71 to 77 above 4000 feet. North winds up to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Detailed Forecast

Synopsis

Gentle to moderate trade winds will hold in place through Tuesday, with showers favoring windward slopes and coasts during the overnight and early morning hours, and a few showers developing over leeward and interior areas each afternoon. Moderate trades and more typical windward and mauka showers will return late Tuesday and continue through the upcoming weekend.

Discussion

Currently at the surface, a west to east oriented ridge of high pressure centered around 675 miles north of Honolulu, is driving gentle to moderate trade winds across the island chain early this morning. Infrared satellite imagery shows mostly cloudy conditions across Maui and the Big Island, with partly cloudy skies across the rest of the state. Radar imagery shows scattered showers moving into windward areas, with a shower or two drifting leeward from time to time. Main short term concerns revolve around trade wind trends and rain chances during the next few days.
The trades are expected to remain in the gentle to moderate range through early Tuesday, as the ridge north of the islands weakens. A new high building north of the islands should increase trades back to moderate levels beginning late Tuesday, with locally breezy conditions possible by late in the upcoming weekend.
As for the remaining weather details, fairly typical trade wind weather will prevail this morning. A slightly lighter wind pattern this afternoon through much of Tuesday, will have showers favoring interior and leeward areas during the afternoon and early evening hours, and locations near the coast at night and during the morning. A more typical trade wind pattern is expected Tuesday night through the upcoming weekend, with showers favoring windward and mauka areas, particularly at night and during the early morning hours, with a stray shower reaching leeward communities from time to time.

Aviation

As the high far north of the area weakens, trade winds have been easing into the light to moderate category, which will persist at least through tonight. Conditions will be VFR predominantly, with MVFR in lower clouds and showers mainly affecting windward and mauka sections statewide. Also, an upper level disturbance northeast of the area will help to enhance showers over and near the isles, with the Big Island being most impacted during afternoon hours.
The AIRMET for mountain obscuration, affecting the Big Island and Maui, was cancelled at the last issuance time. Conditions had improved over both isles.

Marine

A weak high pressure ridge will remain far north of the state this week due to a frontal system passing far north of the area. Trade winds will hold in the gentle to moderate range through Tuesday, then increase into the moderate to fresh range from late Tuesday through the upcoming weekend. Winds are forecast to remain below Small Craft Advisory thresholds through the week.
A series of small long period south swells will maintain surf heights near seasonal averages over the next few days along south facing shores. Surf heights along east facing shores will trend lower over the next few days. No significant swells are expected from the north or west direction through the forecast period.

HFO Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.

Big Island Now Weather is brought to you by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

Check out their Big Island Helicopter Tours today!

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov