Red flag warning, high wind advisory canceled for all islands
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
A fire temperature satellite image from 8:40 a.m. today shows wildfires burning, in red, on Maui and Hawaii island.
UPDATE 9:15 p.m.
The National Weather Service said it has canceled the red flag fire warning and high wind advisory for all islands.
4:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service has extended the red flag warning for the leeward areas of all Hawaiian isles to 6 a.m. Thursday as brushfires continue on Maui and Hawaii island.
Forecasters say very dry fuels, combined with gusty, easterly winds and low humidity will continue to produce critical fire weather conditions.
The conditions are expected to improve late tonight as humidity increases, and winds diminish further.
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The wind advisory for Hawaii has also been extended to 6 a.m. Thursday.
Massive wildfires devastate Lahaina, wreak havoc across 2 islands;
A list of open emergency shelters, closed schools and roads;
Lahaina burns as high winds fuel wildfires on Maui, Big Island
Forecasters say east-northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts around 50 mph, will continue to trend lower tonight and Thursday.
However, the wind speeds remain elevated enough to warrant extending the advisory to Thursday morning.
The leeward portions of Kauai, Oahu, Maui County, and Hawaii island are most impacted.
A small craft advisory for most waters — from northwest of Kauai to windward of Hawaii island — also remains in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
A red flag warning for the leeward areas of all Hawaiian isles remains in place through 6 p.m. today as brushfires continue on Maui and the Kohala area of Hawaii island.
The National Weather Service extended the warning due to east winds of 20 to 35 mph, with gusts from 40 to 50 mph, combined with dry fuels and low humidities.
The combination will produce critical fire weather conditions through this afternoon, and any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Former high surf and high wind warnings were replaced with advisories this morning.
The high wind advisory remains in place for most mountain and leeward areas until 6 p.m. today. Wind speeds have eased slightly from Tuesday, but are still strong enough to tear off shingles, known down tree branches, and blow tends and awnings away.
A high surf advisory covers the east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Maui, where waves of 7 to 10 feet are expected through 6 p.m. today.
Forecasters expect wind speeds to continue decreasing slowly across the isles today as a high-pressure system to the north and Hurricane Dora move westward.
As of 5 a.m., Hurricane Dora was 795 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, and moving west at about 22 mph. Dora is expected to pass south of Johnston Island later today.
A more typical moderate to breezy trade wind weather pattern is expected to return Thursday and last through the weekend.
