Hilo

Today: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Isolated showers. Highs 79 to 84 near the shore to 66 to 72 at 4000 feet. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows 62 to 71 near the shore to around 55 at 4000 feet. Southeast winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Isolated showers. Highs around 81 near the shore to 66 to 72 at 4000 feet. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Kona

Today: Sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 82 to 87 near the shore to around 68 near 5000 feet. Southwest winds around 10 mph shifting to the northwest in the afternoon. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows 69 to 74 near the shore to 49 to 55 near 5000 feet. North winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday: Sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs around 84 near the shore to around 67 near 5000 feet. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Waimea

Today: Breezy. Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 66 to 86. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows around 64 near the shore to 53 to 61 near 3000 feet. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 66 to 86. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Kohala

Today: Breezy. Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 66 to 86. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows around 64 near the shore to 53 to 61 near 3000 feet. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny with isolated showers. Highs 66 to 86. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

South Big Island

Today: Breezy. Sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs around 83 near the shore to around 66 near 5000 feet. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows around 71 near the shore to around 50 near 5000 feet. East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday: Sunny and breezy. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs around 83 near the shore to around 66 near 5000 feet. Southeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Puna

Today: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Isolated showers. Highs 79 to 84 near the shore to 66 to 72 at 4000 feet. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Isolated showers. Lows 62 to 71 near the shore to around 55 at 4000 feet. Southeast winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Isolated showers. Highs around 81 near the shore to 66 to 72 at 4000 feet. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Waikoloa

Today: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 79 to 88 near the shore to 65 to 71 above 4000 feet. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows 68 to 74 near the shore to 48 to 55 above 4000 feet. Light winds.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 79 to 86 near the shore to 64 to 71 above 4000 feet. Northwest winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Detailed Forecast

Synopsis

The mostly dry weather pattern will continue. Light to moderate trade winds will deliver limited moisture to windward areas, mainly during nights and mornings. Afternoon sea breezes will prompt some clouds over leeward and interior areas, but very little rainfall is expected. Locally breezy trades may develop this weekend.

Discussion

Virtually no change to the existing weather pattern for the next several days. Light to moderate trades will favor a hybrid sea breeze regime each afternoon with clouds and the occasional isolated light shower favored over the most sheltered locales. Subtle changes in the intensity and position of the governing high will cause a slight strengthening of trades on Tuesday before weakening again during mid-week. Winds in this regime will be lightest and more veered to SEly near Kauai with stronger E winds near the Big Island. Otherwise, trades will deliver limited moisture to windward areas overnight and during the mornings. Even so, land breezes may be sufficiently strong to keep moisture offshore at times.
The CIMSS satellite PWAT product shows a drier airmass (PWAT < 1″) advancing westward toward the islands with the lion's share of drier air residing immediately above the trade inversion per GFS forecast soundings. Despite the tendency for increased mid-level troughing after mid-week, dry advection centered around 700mb will tend to offset losses in stability in continued maintenance of the dry pattern. Locally breezy trades return this weekend.

Aviation

A surface ridge to the north of the islands is maintaining the light to moderate trade wind pattern that is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future. A stable airmass over the islands is limiting clouds and showers, with VFR conditions prevailing. Clouds over the leeward slopes of the Big Island are expected to redevelop later this morning and into the afternoon hours.
Winds are expected to be light enough at times to support localized land and sea breezes. This will lead to clearing at night, and some cloud development during the afternoon hours. Isolated pockets of MVFR are possible, but VFR conditions are more likely. No AIRMETs in place, and one are expected today.

Marine

A high pressure ridge north of the islands will produce gentle to moderate trade winds for most areas through Friday. These lighter winds will allow near shore sea breezes to develop along western sides of each island during the daylight hours. The ridge will build north of the area starting on Friday night, trade winds will increase into the moderate to breezy range, reaching Small Craft Advisory thresholds, over the windier eastern waters around Maui and Hawaii Counties on Saturday and Sunday.
A series of small, medium period south swells will keep surf along south facing shores elevated over the next several days. Surf heights will drop a bit from Friday into the weekend as south swell energy begins to fade. Long range models continue to hint at southern hemisphere storms ramping up in the Tasman Sea area over the next few days, perhaps producing another long term boost to south side surf starting next week Wednesday or Thursday.
The current small northwest swell will fade going into Tuesday with declining surf heights along north and west facing shores through Friday. Another small medium period northwest swell (300 direction) arrives from late Saturday into Sunday elevating surf along north and west facing shores just in time for the weekend. Eastern facing shores will see small wind wave chop through Friday with east shore surf heights rising through the weekend as trade winds strengthen.

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