Light winds, smoky skies, cool temps and high surf forecast for New Year

Gusty, northerly winds are expected to arrive this afternoon, bringing cooler nights this weekend, the National Weather Service said.

This morning, though, amid weak winds, some of the smoke tied to New Year’s celebrations will likely linger, said Maureen Ballard, a meteorologist with the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service. “The winds on New Year’s morning will probably be a little light, but later in the day, we’ll see some northerly winds.”

Winds will increase in strength around Kauai and Oahu by afternoon, with Maui and Hawaii island getting more windy toward the evening, the weather service said.

“This will be a slightly drier air mass so winds could be a bit gustier than normal,” a weather service report said. “The drier air will also make it feel a little cooler the next couple of nights/mornings.”

Combined with the drier, cooler air mass behind the front, the windchill factor will make it feel cooler Friday night and Saturday night even though temperatures remain the same with lows from 61 to 69 on Oahu’s South Shore, said Vladimir Ryshko, a meteorologist with the weather service in Honolulu.

New Year’s Day is expected to be partly cloudy with scattered showers and isolated showers on Hawaii island.

Highs will be 78 to 83 degrees, with overnight lows from 67 to 72 for the state.

Behind the front, a high-pressure system is expected to move north of the islands and bring moderate north winds through the weekend.

Meanwhile, a high surf advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. today, from Niihau to Maui.

Waves are building to 15 to 20 feet along north shores of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Molokai, and to 8 to 12 feet along west shores of Kauai, Oahu and Molokai.

A reinforcement swell is likely to arrive today, and the advisory is expected to be extended or even upgraded to a warning on Sunday.

Forecasters caution that large waves, shorebreak and rip currents could make swimming difficult and dangerous. Beachgoers are urged to listen to advice from lifeguards.