Moderate trades focus showers windward and mauka through the weekend. A strengthening low then brings potential for heavy rain to the islands from Tuesday night onward.
Issued at 842 AM HST Fri Apr 3 2026
The trade wind pattern and VFR conditions will continue today with Hilo being the only terminal with isolated MVFR conditions.
Regarding turbulance, upper level turb continues to weaken. However, lower level turbulance may increase to moderate levels the next few hours as winds also increase. We will continue to monitor.
AIRMET TANGO remains in effect across the state for moderate turbulence between FL280 and FL380, which will weaken throughout the day. However, isolated low level moderate turbulance is possible today.
Moderate to locally fresh trade winds will remain in place through the weekend. Winds will then begin to veer east to southeast by Monday ahead of a front approaching from the northwest and trough moving up from the southwest. This surface front and trough will be driven by an upper level trough, which could allow for isolated thunderstorms over the offshore and coastal waters through much of next week. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the typically windier waters around Maui County and the Big Island through tonight.
Surf over north and east facing shores will remain choppy today as northeast swell decreases. By tonight through tomorrow, small, medium-period west-northwest (310 degree) energy will fill in and bump up surf for north and west facing shores. Then by Monday night through Wednesday, a moderate medium-period west- northwest swell will fill in and increase surf to just below advisory levels.
Along south facing shores, expect small reinforcements to provide periods of small surf through the weekend until a larger long period south swell fills in Monday through mid week. Strengthening southerly winds may lead to increasingly choppy conditions by mid week.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Saturday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters- Maalaea Bay-Pailolo Channel.
