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 southerly to southwesterly will hold through Saturday and producing damaging wind gusts. The highest threats for damaging winds remain along north and east of the island mountains. Unsettled wet weather conditions with decreasing southwesterly wind trends will continue into early next week. This Kona storm begins to lift northward on Monday, and unsettled weather will start to ease across the Hawaii region. High pressure will build back in north of the state during the second half of next week allowing trade winds to gradually return from north to south.
Widespread showers, some heavy, along with isolated thunderstorms, will continue into Saturday. Expect widespread MVFR to IFR with local LIFR. Winds will remain primarily out of the south to southwest and increase through the day. Widespread gusts up to and over 35 kt are forecast. There may be a brief break in the rain this evening and overnight, especially for Kauai and Oahu, before showers are expected to become widespread once again during the day Saturday.
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.
.MARINE, ASCAT passes this morning showed gale-force winds in the waters near Oahu and Maui County this morning, and radar signatures supported gale-force winds with some of the strongest bands of showers moving through the area in association with the strong Kona storm impacting the area. Gusty winds, steep and fast building seas, and low visibility in heavy showers will continue across the entire marine waters through the weekend.
The Gale Warning near Kauai and Oahu was expanded to include Maui County following the morning ASCAT pass. The Gale Warning was expanded to include waters near the Big Island starting tonight. The winds are expected to weaken near Kauai and Oahu tomorrow, but continue near Maui County and the Big Island through tomorrow night. These gale force southerly winds will create large and rough surf along south facing shores through Saturday afternoon and as such a High Surf Advisory is in effect for south facing shores. 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. Kauai will block some of this swell energy from reaching Oahu and Maui, but it will make it into the west facing shores of the Big Island. Additionally, a small, medium period north swell will peak Saturday before gradually declining.
Ascat passes this morning showed gale-force winds in the waters near Oahu and Maui County this morning, and radar signatures supported gale-force winds with some of the strongest bands of showers moving through the area in association with the strong Kona storm impacting the area. Gusty winds, steep and fast building seas, and low visibility in heavy showers will continue across the entire marine waters through the weekend.
The Gale Warning near Kauai and Oahu was expanded to include Maui County following the morning ASCAT pass. The Gale Warning was expanded to include waters near the Big Island starting tonight. The winds are expected to weaken near Kauai and Oahu tomorrow, but continue near Maui County and the Big Island through tomorrow night. These gale force southerly winds will create large and rough surf along south facing shores through Saturday afternoon and as such a High Surf Advisory is in effect for south facing shores. 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. Kauai will block some of this swell energy from reaching Oahu and Maui, but it will make it into the west facing shores of the Big Island. Additionally, a small, medium period north swell will peak Saturday before gradually declining.
Flood Watch through Saturday afternoon for Kauai County.
Flood Watch through late Saturday night for Oahu.
Flood Watch through late Sunday night for Maui County and the Big Island.
High Wind Warning until 6 AM HST Sunday for all Hawaiian Islands.
High Wind Warning until 6 PM HST Sunday for Big Island Summits- Haleakala Summit.
Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM HST Saturday for Big Island Summits.
Gale Warning until 6 AM HST Saturday for Kauai Channel-Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Northwest Waters-Kauai Windward Waters-Oahu Leeward Waters.
Gale Warning until 6 AM 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-Oahu Windward Waters-Pailolo Channel.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST Saturday for south facing shores of all islands.
