A band of moisture will exit the region this afternoon, decreasing shower coverage over the western islands later today. Windward and mauka areas could see numerous showers, especially in Kauai County. A more typical (drier but not dry) trade wind pattern will return this evening and continue into early next week.
Clouds and showers will linger over Kauai today as a convergent band slowly tracks away to the west. VFR conditions will prevail elsewhere. AIRMET Sierra for tempo mountain obscuration is in effect for windward Kauai, with conditions expected to improve later today.
AIRMET Tango is posted for moderate turbulence below 8000 feet all leeward portions of the islands, and should continue as breezy trades are forecast over the next several days.
Fresh to strong easterly trades will prevail through at least the weekend as high pressure remains anchored far northeast of the islands. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) remains in effect for the typically windier channels and waters around Maui County and Big Island through tomorrow, but the SCA will be extended in time and may need to be expanded to additional waters if trades strengthen any more. Trades may ease Tuesday.
A peaking south-southwest swell is producing surf well above the High Surf Advisory threshold and near the warning level of 15 feet this morning. Offshore NOAA buoys 51002 and 51004 registered swell of 6 to 7 feet at 17 seconds overnight, and nearshore PacIOOS buoys have been showing the swell at around 6 feet this morning as the swell peaks. The swell will begin to gradually lower by evening, with south shore surf likely dropping below the advisory threshold of 10 feet by Thursday afternoon. Surf will fall to moderate levels Friday and will fade Sunday, followed by a smaller pulse of south-southwest swell early next week.
Along north facing shores, a small medium-period north swell will arrive Thursday and and peak Friday before easing over the weekend. Surf along east-facing shores will gradually build to around seasonal average by Friday then hold into early next week.
High Surf Advisory until 6 AM HST Thursday for Big Island South- Big Island Southeast-East Honolulu-Ewa Plain-Honolulu Metro- Kahoolawe-Kauai South-Kauai Southwest-Kona-Lanai Leeward-Lanai South-Maui Central Valley South-Maui Leeward West-Molokai Leeward South-Niihau-South Haleakala-South Maui/Upcountry- Waianae Coast.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Thursday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters- Maalaea Bay-Pailolo Channel.
