Unstable atmosphere, Ulika remnants could make for a wet weekend

Forecasters are expecting a wet weekend with the potential for heavy showers as remnants of Tropical Storm Ulika move over the state starting as early as Saturday evening through Tuesday.

A developing weather system is expected to create unstable atmospheric conditions starting tonight as clouds ahead of Ulika begin to move over the state. Windward and mauka areas can expect showers. But some of the rain will spread to leeward areas.

The center of what’s left of Ulika is expected to bring more moisture and cut off the tradewinds by Monday.

As Ulika passes south or over the islands Saturday evening through Tuesday, winds will shift to the east or southeast, increasing humidity and the chance of afternoon showers in leeward areas.

Ulika crossed back into the Central Pacific Thursday morning. The storm continued to weaken overnight, becoming a post-tropical cyclone as windshear tears it apart. It is expected to continue weakening until the remnant low dissipates Saturday afternoon.

Early this morning, the storm had sustained winds of 35 mph, about 825 miles eastof Hilo. It was moving west at 12 mph. As it weakens, tradewinds should blow the storm’s remnants west, toward Hawaii.

Today should be mostly sunny and breezy with scattered windward showers and isolated leeward showers.

Skies will become more cloudy tonight and mostly cloudy on Saturday with showers likely in windward areas. Leeward skies will be partly sunny during the day and mostly cloudy at night with scattered showers through Tuesday.

The forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of rain through Tuesday in Honolulu and south shores of Oahu.