A high pressure ridge north of the state will maintain trade winds over the region through much of the week. Some weakening in the trades is expected by the weekend. An upper level low approaching from the west could enhance shower activity this weekend.
Breezy trade winds will continue tonight through Wednesday, with periods of low clouds and showers favoring windward and mountain locations. Although MVFR ceilings and visibilities may be possible within passing showers at times, VFR flight conditions will prevail for most locations. Showers will be most prevalent during the overnight through morning hours.
AIRMET Tango remains in effect for mod low-level turbulence over and downwind of terrain across all islands. This AIRMET will likely be needed through Wednesday.
Issued at 341 PM HST Tue May 26 2026
A surface ridge north of the state will maintain breezy to strong trade winds across the Hawaiian coastal waters through at least Wednesday before a weakness develops in the ridge, allowing trade wind speeds to ease slightly during the latter part of the week into the weekend. The Small Craft Advisory (SCA), which currently encompasses all Hawaiian coastal waters, has been extended through Wednesday night, then will likely be scaled back later in the week to the typically windier waters around the Big Island and Maui County.
The current south swell will continue to fade while the next pulse of south swell energy arrives tonight, providing a slight boost to south shore surf through midweek. However, a more significant south swell is expected to begin filling in Thursday night and will likely bring above-advisory-level surf to south- facing shores through the weekend. This swell originated from a storm-force low that passed south and east of New Zealand over the weekend, generating seas of 35 to 40 feet or greater within Hawaii’s swell window, though the peak of the energy may pass just east of the state. Elevated surf will likely continue into the first week of June due to a continued active weather pattern near New Zealand sending swells toward Hawaii.
Forerunners from a small, long-period northwest swell began filling in along north-facing shores this morning. Although the bulk of the energy from this swell will remain focused northeast of the islands, it is expected to peak locally late tonight into Wednesday, raising surf to above-seasonal-average heights before gradually subsiding into the weekend.
Surf along east-facing shores will remain rough through midweek, then gradually lower later in the week as the trades ease.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Thursday 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.
