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Tradewinds return, but it’s still hot and humid

Craig Gima
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The first official day of fall brought a bit of relief from weeks of heat and humidity  with the return of cooling tradewinds.

But forecasters say the hot weather, with temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s will likely continue. Maui recorded its third day of record heat Monday.

The heavy humidity that was over the islands this weekend, should begin moving away, National Weather Service forecasters said.

“We’re starting to see it. It’s not gangbusters, but there are signs of building tradewinds,” Derek Wroe, a weather service meteorologist said Monday morning.

“Even though leeward areas will remain seasonably hot, around 90, during the next couple of days, the slight drop in humidity along with the moderate trades will continue to provide some relief,” forecasters said Monday afternoon.

Wroe said there may still be a few afternoon and evening showers. But nothing like Sunday’s heavy rain on Oahu and the Big Island, which caused flooding on Highway 11 in Kau overnight and prompted flood advisories on both islands. The Big Island got 2.7 inches of rain at Kapapala Ranch in Kau Sunday, while Wheeler Airfield on Oahu recorded a little less than 1.2 inches of rain.

Maui matched a heat record for the date on Monday with a high of 92 degrees at the Kahului Airport. That tied a record set in 1993.

It’s the third straight day of record temperatures on Maui.

The high of 93 degrees Sunday tied a record set in 1977. A high temperature record of 95 degrees was set Saturday at Kahului Airport. It breaks the old record of 90 set in 1991.

On Saturday, Hilo tied a record of 90 degrees, set in 1981, and set or tied records for  four days. The 90 degree temperature Friday beat an old record of 89 set in 1974. The 89 degree temperature Thursday tied a 1995 record. The 89 degree temperature Wednesday tied a 1995 record.

Expect tradewinds to continue to strengthen Tuesday, and some windward and mauka showers in the morning.

Another weather system moving towards the islands may bring widespread rain to the state Wednesday night into Thursday.

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