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NOAA / NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
A weather system north of the islands is blocking the usual northeast tradewinds and creating warm and humid weather conditions over the islands Wednesday. A band of moisture moving over the Big Island may move up the island chain through Thursday.
Hilo tied a high temperature record Tuesday as the hot and humid weather in June continued into July.
The high of 88 degrees at the Hilo Airport tied a record for the date set in 1980. It’s the ninth high temperature record tied or broken in June.
National Weather Service forecasters expect a muggy Wednesday and a possible increase in showers, especially over the Big Island and Maui, through Thursday as a band of moisture moves up the island chain.
A weather system north of the state is blocking the usual, cooling tradewinds, allowing sea breezes to blow humid ocean air over leeward and interior sections of the islands in the afternoons.
The forecast calls for “continued very warm and humid” weather through Friday. Highs of between 86 and 92 degrees are expected with variable light winds, mostly clear mornings and nights, and scattered showers in the afternoon and evenings.
Tradewinds should begin to return on the 4th of July making for slightly less humid weather. But afternoon sea breezes will continue to bring the chance of afternoon showers in leeward areas.
More typical tradewind weather with windward and mauka morning showers and cooler conditions should be back by Monday.
Surfers may find some relief from the hot weather in the waves. A series of south swells are expected to bring small to moderate 2- to 4-foot surf through the weekend. An out-of-season north swell is bringing 5- to 7-foot surf to the North Shore and 3- to 5-foot waves to west shores.
