Emilia brings increased chance of showers to Hawaii

Courtesy: NOAA

This satellite image shows the remnant of Emilia approaching the Hawaiian islands from the southeast. At the time this image was taken, Emilia was about 800 miles away from Hilo.

The National Weather Service says the approach of what's left of Emilia is bringing extra moisture into the tradewind flow and the possibility of increased tradewind showers, especially on Hawaii island, through Wednesday.

Emilia, which had been a major hurricane last week, is now considered a tropical remnant, a low pressure system that is barely a storm.

Emilia to the south and unseasonably strong high pressure northeast of the state are contributing to gusty tradewinds and rough surf from the east.

A high wind advisory is in effect for the summits of Haleakala, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, where winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are forecast through 6 p.m. tonight.

Emilia and the gusty tradewinds are also bringing surf to east shores of all islands, but the surf is not expected to reach advisory levels, foresters said.

Emilia is moving along the same path as Daniel, another tropical remnant, which passed about 300 miles south of Hawaii last week.

Forecasters say most of the rain clouds associated with Emilia will pass south of Hawaii today through Wednesday. But increased moisture in the atmosphere could bring wetter tradewind showers into the windward areas of Hawaii island, and, to a lesser extent, to other islands through Wednesday.

The remnant of Daniel was about 900 miles west southwest of Lihue early this morning.

Emilia's remnant was about 800 miles east southeast of Hilo early this morning, traveling west at about 20 mph.