As August winds to an end, the last few days are expected to be hot and humid, similar to much of the rest of the month in Hawaii.

Tradewinds weakened into the light and moderate range on Wednesday, and are expected to remain so through Friday, according to National Weather Service officials, due to a weak ridge north of the main Hawaiian isles.

On Wednesday, air temperatures ranged from 88 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit, with winds from 5 to 15 miles per hour.

High humidity boosted the heat index — a measure of what it really feels like when the actual air temperature and relative humidity are combined — to a high level on Wednesday.

Weather officials had forecasted the heat index would reach as high as 102 degrees in Honolulu, particularly in the Kakaako area, 100 in Kahului, 98 in Kapolei and 95 in Lihue on Wednesday afternoon.

In actuality, the heat index in Honolulu reached 95, according to NWS meteorologist Gavin Shigesato, with an air temperature of 90 degrees and humidity at about 50% on Wednesday afternoon.

The highest heat index of 97 was registered in Kahului, with an air temperature of 91 degrees and humidity at about 50% on Wednesday afternoon.

“Our tradewinds have been slacking off for the last couple of days,” said Shigesato. “When we don’t have our trades, everything heats up faster or more than usual.”

It was hot, and it is expected to feel just as hot today, with temperatures once again expected to be in the 90s. The heat indexes are predicted to reach as high as 101 in Honolulu, 97 in Kapolei, 96 in Kahului, and 94 in Lihue this afternoon.

The heat index is based on a specific chart and calculations, and anything ranging from 91 to 103 is placed within the “extreme caution category.” Anything above the 103 range is within the “danger” category, in which heat disorders can occur with prolonged exposure or strenuous activity.

Exposure to full sunshine, however, can increase heat index values by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NWS.

For this weekend, the ridge to the north is forecast to strengthen and trade winds are forecast to increase. However, NWS said models show a remnant disturbance drifting from east to west across the islands, dragging an area of increased moisture with it.

So the trades may be accompanied by clouds and showers favoring windward and mauka areas.

On Wednesday, the temperature in Lihue reached 89 degrees, matching a record high from 2013.

On Tuesday, three more temperatures matched record highs from years past, as far back as 38 years ago. A record high of 89 degrees in Lihue tied with the record set in 1981. A record high of 92 degrees in Honolulu tied with the one set in 2005. A record high of 89 degrees in Hilo tied the one set in 2015.

Record highs and ties in temperatures have been set nearly every day on various isles since the start of August, continuing a trend that began in May.