Honolulu sets high temperature record as Kona weather continues
A weather system northwest of Hawaii is expected to weaken before reaching the state. Some low clouds can be seen over the Big Island and parts of Maui Tuesday morning in this composite satellite image.
Hot and muggy weather is expected to continue Tuesday, although temperatures may not reach Monday’s record-setting high, National Weather Service forecasters said.
Light winds helped temperatures at the Honolulu Airport rise to 86 degrees Monday, breaking the old record for the date of 85 set in 1996. Lihue Airport also tied a high temperature record of 83 degrees set in 1980.
“We’re under the same kind of (weather) pattern (Tuesday),” said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service. “Typically our warmest days are when we have really light trade winds.”
The winds should be slightly stronger Tuesday, which should keep Honolulu’s temperature just below record levels, Foster said.
East-southeasterly winds are also bringing up humidity from the tropics, but the vog from the Big Island is mostly staying south of Oahu.
Experienced surfers may find some relief from the heat in the ocean, where an unusual west-northwest swell also prompted a high surf advisory for west shores of Niihau, Kauai and the Big Island.
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Surf along west shores will rise from 5 to 8 feet Tuesday morning to 6 to 10 feet Tuesday afternoon, forecasters said.
Some of the waves may also wrap around to Oahu’s south shores, where 2-to 4-foot wave faces are expected at some breaks.
Oahu’s North Shore will see surf of 4 to 8 feet through Wednesday.
The high surf advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday.
On the Big Island, a wind advisory is in effect for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, where 30 to 45 mph winds from the northeast could gust to more than 60 mph until about 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The forecast for Honolulu and Oahu’s south shore calls for highs of 78 to 84 degrees, east winds of 10 to 15 mph and sunny skies with the chance of isolated afternoon showers as daytime heating causes clouds to build over some leeward areas.
Lows Tuesday night should be between 65 and 71 degrees.
Expect more of the same Wednesday.
But the weather is expected to change Thursday, when an increase in moisture over the islands and a weakening weather system could bring rains to the state through the weekend.
The forecast for Honolulu calls for a 50 to 60 percent chance of rain Thursday night through Monday.
