High pressure building north of the state will strengthen trade winds into the moderate to locally breezy range through Wednesday. Brief passing showers will favor windward and mountain areas, mainly during the overnight and early morning hours. From Thursday into the weekend, winds will ease slightly and veer to a more east-southeast direction, shifting shower activity toward southeast-facing slopes of the Big Island and Maui, as well as some interior areas. Overall rainfall amounts are expected to remain limited.
Trade winds have begun to gradually return across the state today at light to moderate speeds. Expect these trade winds to continue strengthening tomorrow. Mid to high level clouds are still over the islands from Oahu to the Big Island, but will continue to move out of the area through tonight. Expect brief showers to start focusing over typical windward and mountain areas, with MVFR conditions expected within showers and VFR conditions elsewhere.
AIRMET Tango is in effect across the islands for upper level moderate turbulence between FL280-FL360. AIRMET Tango is also in effect for mid level moderate turbulence from Oahu to Big Island between 140-FL200. The mid level turbulence will likely weaken by this evening, while the upper level turbulence will likely continue through most of tonight, but on a weakening trend. Light icing is possible in a layer between 130-FL230 due to the mid- upper level clouds currently over the state.
Issued at 800 PM HST Mon Mar 2 2026
Building surface high pressure north of the islands will strengthen and drift northeast through the week bringing moderate to locally strong east to east south east winds through Wednesday. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is currently in effect for the windier waters and channels around Maui County and the Big Island through Tuesday. As the winds veer, the SCA will expand to add Maui County and Big Island windward waters through Wednesday afternoon. Looking towards the ending of the week, winds look to veer to the east southeast and weaken slightly as the ridge moves closer to the islands.
The current moderate medium period northwest swell has peaked this afternoon below High Surf Advisory levels and will gradually decline through the rest of the week. The next small to moderate northwest swell looks to build in Saturday and hold through the weekend.
Surf along east facing shores will remain choppy as fresh trade winds redevelop and expand upstream of the state. This will keep surf along exposed east-facing shores somewhat elevated.
Surf along south-facing shores will remain small to tiny, with no significant swells forecast for at least the next several days.
Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM Tuesday to 6 PM HST Wednesday for Big Island Windward Waters-Maui County Windward Waters.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Wednesday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters- Maalaea Bay-Pailolo Channel.
