Honolulu sets rain record as more tropical cyclone remnants approach islands

The hot, humid and wet weather over the islands since the weekend reached or set records for the date Monday.

In Honolulu, 0.35 inches of rain fell at the airport, breaking the old record for the date of 0.17 inches set in 1985; while in Hilo, the high temperature of 87 degrees tied a record set on Aug. 1, 2007.

The wet and humid conditions are due to the passing of what’s left of former Hurricane Georgette mixed in with other rain clouds and tropical moisture being blown over the islands by the tradewinds.

Forecasters expect the mixture of sun, humidity and rain to continue into the weekend as two more storm remnants pass near the state.

Remnants of former Hurricane Frank are expected to bring an increase in showers and humidity starting Wednesday into Thursday.

Forecasters are watching Tropical Storm Howard in the East Pacific.

At 11 a.m., the storm was about 1,330 miles west of Baja California, moving west-northwest at 17 mph.

The storm maintained its strength today with sustained winds of 60 mph, but is expected to weaken as it moves through cooler waters.

Tropical storm force winds extend 105 miles from the center.

Howard is expected to enter the Central Pacific early Thursday as a tropical storm with winds around 45 mph. It should weaken to a post-tropical cyclone by the weekend when it makes its closest pass to Hawaii.

Forecasters said Howard could bring rains and humidity to the islands this weekend. But the timing and impact to Hawaii depends on Howard’s exact track and intensity.

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center is watching another tropical cyclone — Tropical Depression 10E — which formed today about 765 miles south-southwest of Baja California with maxium sustained winds of 35 mph. The storm, moving west-northwest at 17 mph, is expected to reach hurricane strength Thursday. But it is still too far away to say how or if it will affect Hawaii’s weather. If it becomes a tropical storm Wednesday, as forecast, it will be named Ivette.

Today’s forecast calls for mostly to partly sunny skies with scattered showers this afternoon.

Honolulu and south shores of Oahu can expect a 40 percent chance of rain with highs between 84 and 90 degrees and breezy tradewinds of 10 to 25 mph.