An approaching storm system will cut off our normal tradewind flow sometime tonight and winds will become light and variable, forecasters at the National Weather Service said.

When that happens and what it means for all the smoke generated by New Year’s Eve fireworks is still an open question.

“Depending on which (weather forecast) model you want to look at the trades will vanish at either 8 p.m. or 2 a.m.,” said Tim Craig, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service.

“If you’re a pessimist it will be at 8 p.m. and we’ll have smoke. If you’re an optimist, it will be at 2 a.m. and it will help clear the smoke.”

Occasional isolated showers are also in tonight’s forecast.

Rains are expected to return late Saturday night or early Sunday morning “but it doesn’t look to be as big or as wet” as the last storm, Craig said.