Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Honolulu, HI

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
679 FXHW60 PHFO 010701 AFDHFO Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Honolulu HI 901 PM HST Tue Apr 30 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
Moderate east to east-southeasterly winds will gradually build on Wednesday. Limited showers will remain focused over windward areas, with afternoon clouds and a few showers forming over sheltered leeward terrain. Trade winds will strengthen on Thursday and will become breezy and gusty Friday through early next week. Rainfall will favor typical windward slopes, with an increase in showers possible late this weekend through Monday as a disturbance aloft passes overhead.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .DISCUSSION...
-- Changed Discussion --
Hawaii remains under a stable east to east-southeasterly trade wind flow as a weak trough far northwest of the state bisects a pair of high pressure systems to the distant northeast and northwest. There remains no organized areas of moisture upstream of the islands, with mid-level ridging maintaining stable conditions across the area. Local sea breeze clouds and showers that developed over sheltered leeward areas this afternoon continue to dissipate this evening, with a few showers across windward slopes. Trade winds will gradually strengthen and become more easterly Wednesday and Thursday, as the trough to the northwest fills and surface high pressure consolidates to the north. Winds will likely be weak enough for some leeward sea breezes Wednesday afternoon, but aside from typical showers on the South Kona slopes of the Big Island, chances for leeward rainfall will be minimal. Continued westerly flow aloft may bring some patches of thin high clouds. A 1030 mb surface high will settle far north of the state late Thursday and Friday, driving breezy and gusty trade winds and mainly windward rainfall into early next week. A compact upper- level low lingering west of the state Thursday and Friday will eventually move overhead during the weekend. Confidence in a significant boost in shower activity is not high at this time, though the highest chances for enhanced shower activity looks to be on Sunday and Monday.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION...
-- Changed Discussion --
Hawaii remains wedged between a pair of surface high pressure to the distant NE and NW and a trough to the far NW. This will maintain light to moderate E to ESE flow into Wednesday. Expect scattered SHRA along the windward and mauka portions of the islands, most active at night and early morning, and isol SHRA possible leeward. Brief periods of MVFR cigs/vsbys are possible. No AIRMETs are currently in effect.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .MARINE...
-- Changed Discussion --
High pressure far northeast of the state will shift south through the rest of the week and dissipate as a new high pressure builds to the north. A weak trough to the northwest of the state will shift far northwest of state. In response, moderate to locally strong east- southeast winds will shift out of the more typical easterly trades direction by Thursday, then strengthen to fresh to locally strong Friday. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is now in effect for typical windy waters around the Big Island and Maui. This advisory will likely be expanded to include additional waters Thursday and Friday. Tiny surf will persist along north and west facing shores through Friday. A small, long period northwest swell will is expected to fill in Friday night and peak Saturday brining small surf along north and west facing shores. Another developing storm near the Kuril Islands will send another small, long period northwest swell late Sunday, peaking early next week, maintaining small surf along north and west facing shores. Small, long period background south swells will continue through the forecast period keeping small surf along south facing shores. Small, choppy surf along east facing shores will gradually become rough and choppy Thursday through the weekend as trades return.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Thursday for Pailolo Channel- Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters. && $$ DISCUSSION...Ahue/Wroe AVIATION...Walsh MARINE...Almanza