An upper level ridge will move in and bring a return to cooler trades through Thursday. Winds will veer to southeast Friday and remain that way into the weekend, bringing warmer temperatures and a sea- and land-breeze pattern. Sunday night into early next week has the potential for another boundary to move through with some wet weather. Moderate to breezy trade winds will blow across the region with decreasing shower trends as high pressure builds in through Thursday. Winds begin to weaken and veer more southeasterly from Friday into the weekend ahead of the next cold front approaching the islands from the west.
Issued at 932 AM HST Tue Feb 24 2026
Windward showers continue for the Big Island, while gradual clearing takes place across the rest of the island chain. Isolated windward showers may occur across the rest of the islands during the day today, however confidence was low so only made mention of VCSH across these sites. Otherwise, NE winds will continue to trend downward through the period.
AIRMET Sierra is in effect for windward Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
Issued at 317 AM HST Tue Feb 24 2026
Strong high pressure remains far north of the state, while a weakening surface trough lingers in the far southeast offshore waters. Northeasterly trade winds look to strengthen to fresh to strong speeds through tonight before gradually easing to locally strong speeds over just the windier waters and channels around Maui County and the Big Island Wednesday and Thursday. A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) has been expanded to all coastal waters and extended through tonight due to a combination of winds and mainly seas above SCA criteria due to the large north northeast swell currently impacting the islands. An approaching front will likely cause winds to decline and veer out of the southeast Thursday night into Saturday.
A large, long period north-northeast (010-030 deg) swell has peaked early this morning and will look to hold through the morning hours before declining through the end of the week. This swell will produce breaking waves at High Surf Warning levels across most north and east facing shores through this afternoon. Due to the direction of the large swell, exposed west facing shores of West Maui, western Molokai, and North Kohala on the Big Island will likely experience High Surf Advisory conditions. The north- northeast swell will gradually decline tonight at High Surf Advisory (HSA) level conditions through Wednesday before continuing to decline through Friday. In addition to this swell, a small pulse of overlapping west- northwest swell is expected through Wednesday.
Due to the direction of the large north-northeast (010-030) swell, some overwash will be possible along low-lying coastal roads and infrastructure in windward areas, especially in the Keaukaha area east of Hilo. Hazardous conditions and heavy surges are expected in north facing harbors, mainly in Hilo and Kahului, and a Marine Weather Statement remains in place to highlight this threat.
South facing shores will remain tiny today due to a small background southwest swell before flat wintertime surf will continue along south facing shores through the end of the week week.
High Surf Warning until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island East-Big Island North-Kauai East-Kauai North-Koolau Windward- Maui Central Valley North-Maui Windward West-Molokai North- Molokai Windward-Niihau-Oahu North Shore-Olomana-Windward Haleakala.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST this evening for Kohala-Lanai Windward-Maui Leeward West-Molokai West.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Wednesday for Alenuihaha Channel-Big Island Leeward Waters-Big Island Southeast Waters- Big Island Windward Waters-Kaiwi Channel-Kauai Channel-Kauai Leeward Waters-Kauai Northwest Waters-Kauai Windward Waters- Maalaea Bay-Maui County Leeward Waters-Maui County Windward Waters-Oahu Leeward Waters-Oahu Windward Waters-Pailolo Channel.
