Strong tradewinds, heavy showers expected this week

Blustery tradewinds are returning to the islands this week, bringing heavy showers with them, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a “special weather statement” Wednesday afternoon for the state warning of the possibility of increased rain starting today and lasting into the weekend.

“Strengthening tradewinds will bring moisture over Hawaii from the east, which will interact with an approaching upper-­level trough from the north,” the statement said. “Windward and mauka showers will increase in coverage as the moisture arrives overnight and Thursday. The upper trough will destabilize the atmosphere over us Thursday night or Friday, allowing for locally heavy passing showers at times through the weekend.”

Windward and mauka areas of the islands are expected to get most of the rain, but some showers also will hit leeward areas, forecasters said.

Tradewinds will continue to strengthen this weekend, and showers “will begin to taper off late Sunday as the moisture moves west of the area,” the statement said. Although the rain will ease, the strong tradewinds are expected to continue cooling the islands into early next week.