Strong winds bring showers, surf
A student uses a towel to protect herself from the rain as she walks past Ching Field on the lower campus of the University of Hawaii Manoa..
A rainbow shines through rain clouds over Waikiki Monday.
Strong trade winds are blowing clouds over much of the state Monday morning.
Strong tradewinds are bringing showers to leeward areas, waves to east shores and rough seas around the Hawaiian Islands.
Northeast winds of 20 to 35 mph with localized gusts over 50 mph are affecting parts of Oahu, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe and the Big Island.
A wind advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.
A high surf advisory is also in effect for east shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Wave faces of 6 to 9 feet are expected.
A small craft advisory is also in effect for Hawaiian waters until 6 p.m. Monday.
Forecasters say the surf will create strong currents and make swimming dangerous.
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Rain in leeward areas, blown over the mountains by strong tradewinds, are expected to continue through Monday night.
Forecasters said the tradewinds will gradually ease Tuesday through Wednesday and drier air and fewer showers are expected through the rest of the week.
The blustery conditions are not affecting all areas of the islands. The strongest winds are immediately downslope of mountains and over some ridges.
On Oahu, the winds are affecting the leeward areas of the Koolau and Waianae mountains.
The wind in Maui County is concentrated over Lanai, Kahoolawe, the west Maui mountains and central valley.
The windiest parts of the Big Island are in the leeward Kohala area, Waimea to Kawaihae corridor and western Saddle Road area, and near South Point.
