A powerful Kona storm will remain anchored northwest of the state producing periods of hazardous weather impacts across the Hawaiian Islands through the weekend. Expect a combination of threats ranging from significant flash flooding, damaging winds, strong to severe thunderstorms, and snow and ice over the highest Big Island summits. Strong southwesterly winds will hold today produce damaging wind gusts. The highest threats for damaging winds remain along north and east slopes of island mountains. Unsettled wet weather continues with decreasing southwesterly wind trends from Sunday into next week. This Kona storm begins to lift northeastward from Sunday to Monday, heavy rain and strong winds will decrease as severe weather conditions start to ease across the Hawaii region. However, periods of unsettled wet weather in a light and variable low level wind pattern will continue across the state into next weekend.
Issued at 419 AM HST Sat Mar 14 2026
Widespread showers, some heavy, along with isolated thunderstorms, will continue today. The majority of the showers are forecast to focus on the eastern islands. Expect widespread MVFR to IFR with local LIFR. Winds will remain strong and primarily out of the south to southwest. Widespread gusts up to and over 35 kt are forecast.
AIRMET Sierra remains in effect all islands due to mountain obscuration, and Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Lanai for IFR. This is expected to remain in effect through tonight.
AIRMET Tango remains in effect for moderate upper-level turbulence between 130 and FL380. and for low-level turbulence due to strong surface winds. Both of these are expected to remain in effect through Saturday.
AIRMET Zulu remains in effect, as high clouds from these showers present icing concerns between FL120 and FL260. This is also expected to continue through Saturday.
Issued at 924 AM HST Sat Mar 14 2026
Gale-force winds continue across the coastal waters from Oahu to the Big Island as a strong Kona storm continues impacting the area. Elsewhere (for the waters near Kauai), a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for both winds and elevated seas greater than 10 feet. Gusty winds, steep and fast seas, and low visibility in heavy showers will continue across all coastal waters through the weekend. Latest high-res guidance shows that strong gale-force winds could continue into the day on Sunday for the waters surrounding Maui County and the Big Island. Based on this, the Gale Warning has been extended in time with this morning's updates. As the winds diminish late this weekend, the gale warnings will be expired and replaced with Small Craft Advisories. Seas will gradually fall as the system moves off to the north.
These gale-force southerly winds will create large and rough surf along south facing shores through at least this afternoon, and a High Surf Advisory remains in effect for south facing shores until 6 PM. A few adjustments have been made to the south shore surf forecast for today with this morning's updates. The winds by early next week will shift westerly and diminish as the storm gains increasing distance far to the north of the islands.
A small, short to medium period west to west-northwest swell will bring small to moderate surf to north and west facing shores through the weekend. An additional bump in north shore surf is expected on Tuesday. Additionally, a small, medium period north swell will peak this weekend before gradually declining. Another small north swell could arrive late this week.
Flood Watch until 6 PM HST this evening for Kauai East-Kauai Mountains-Kauai North-Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Niihau.
High Wind Warning until 6 AM HST Sunday for Central Oahu-East Honolulu-Ewa Plain-Honolulu Metro-Kauai East-Kauai Mountains- Kauai North-Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Koolau Leeward-Koolau Windward-Niihau-Oahu North Shore-Olomana-Waianae Coast-Waianae Mountains.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island South-Big Island Southeast-East Honolulu-Ewa Plain-Honolulu Metro-Kahoolawe-Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Kohala-Kona-Lanai Leeward-Lanai South-Maui Central Valley South-Maui Leeward West- Molokai Leeward South-Molokai West-Niihau-South Haleakala-South Maui/Upcountry-Waianae Coast.
Flood Watch through late tonight for Central Oahu-East Honolulu- Ewa Plain-Honolulu Metro-Koolau Leeward-Koolau Windward-Oahu North Shore-Olomana-Waianae Coast-Waianae Mountains.
Flood Watch through late Sunday night for Big Island East-Big Island Interior-Big Island North-Big Island South-Big Island Southeast-Haleakala Summit-Kahoolawe-Kipahulu-Kohala-Kona-Lanai Leeward-Lanai Mauka-Lanai South-Lanai Windward-Maui Central Valley North-Maui Central Valley South-Maui Leeward West-Maui Windward West-Molokai Leeward South-Molokai North-Molokai Southeast-Molokai West-Molokai Windward-South Haleakala-South Maui/Upcountry-Windward Haleakala.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM HST Sunday for Big Island East-Big Island Interior-Big Island North-Big Island South-Big Island Southeast-Big Island Summits-Haleakala Summit-Kahoolawe-Kipahulu- Kohala-Kona-Lanai Leeward-Lanai Mauka-Lanai South-Lanai Windward- Maui Central Valley North-Maui Central Valley South-Maui Leeward West-Maui Windward West-Molokai Leeward South-Molokai North- Molokai Southeast-Molokai West-Molokai Windward-South Haleakala- South Maui/Upcountry-Windward Haleakala.
Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM HST Monday for Big Island Summits.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Sunday for Kauai Channel- Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Northwest Waters-Kauai Windward Waters-Oahu Leeward Waters.
Gale Warning until 6 AM HST Sunday for Oahu Windward Waters.
Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to 6 PM HST Sunday for Oahu Windward Waters.
Gale Warning until 6 PM HST Sunday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters-Big Island Windward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Maalaea Bay-Maui County Leeward Waters-Maui County Windward Waters-Pailolo Channel.
