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Thunderstorms with lightning are currently affecting the Saddle road area and the other one’s moving NE off of Hilo;
http://weather.weatherbug.com/alerts/spa....9726563,7
For movement info go here- click on all tracks;
https://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=HWA
This is the last trace of the cold air pocket that raked Oahu , Lanai, Molokai and Maui yesterday (they even had a severe thunderstorm watch for awhile yesterday-a very rare event for Hawaii) and the days before. An overwhelming warm air response kept the this cold air from reaching us. Although we did receive 4 inches of rain in one day up here in Mountain View a few days ago.
The rain shadow effect from Mauna Loa kept us relatively dry in the SW to NE flow. With occasional sideswipes to HPP and other coastal areas. Fortunately for me and for those low on catchment water this rain came from the cold air aloft that was already over us meeting warm moist air that came from a Southerly direction.
I thought this cold air would reach us and lead to many downpours but it did not. We’re only getting a tiny bit of this cold air over Hilo and the saddle today. Hence the Thunderstorms there. Next batch of cold air doesn’t look like it will reach us either so conserve your water.
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Apologies for the late notice, but this was the earliest I could post this. Power is out on Mauna Kea, presumably due to the storm Ino mentioned above, and has been since late morning.
Because of this, the VIS had to close early this evening (19:30) and unless power is restored before tomorrow evening, will likely be closed again on Friday evening. It'll likely be open during the day, but the shop will be closed without power. If you had plans on visiting, or know someone who does, I thought you'd want to know.
As soon as I learn power has been restored, I'll let you know.
Thanks for the storm update, Ino.
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Power just returned, so the VIS should be open on Friday. The Helco crew did a great job as the problem was in a very remote area that wasn't accessible via vehicle and earlier had to work in the open with hail and lightning - not a fun job. I believe they had to use drones to actually find the problem.
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quote:
Originally posted by Ino
Next batch of cold air doesn’t look like it will reach us either so conserve your water...
More than one full week of dry weather coming up?
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More than one full week of dry wx coming up?
Here? Are you kidding?
Most areas will have a dry week but it does depend on where you live? Chance of some showers this week windward as local circulation patterns could bring local showers/convection but there’s a dry cap on top (high pressure dome- subsiding air) and this will limit how much rain (if any) will fall. You can certainly feel that this air at the surface is moist and muggy DP upper 60’s-Ugh. Local sea breezes could push this air up enough to cool, condense and cause rain using our island for orographic lift.- best chances will be afternoons. Coastal areas will have a much less chance for rain from this dynamic.
There two ways to get rain here, precipitation from organized systems in the Pacific Ocean which can be brought here by circulation patterns and this can be monitored here;
https://pmm.nasa.gov/trmm
Click on 3 hour rainfall map on your right and you’ll see the current organized rain pattern.
The next organized system to affect us does look to be next Thurs. March 9th. One organized system will get close this weekend and has a slight chance to get here but current pressure patterns look like it will not be able to make passage in Puna (no rain from it ). How dry is the air over us?
https://tinyurl.com/z2626e7
Click on mouseover effect Center Bottom and then scroll thru the hours and you’ll get a sense of where the dry air is. You can zoom in here too.
Try not to get hung-up on the following’s accuracy. Try to think of it as reading trends! It’s good that it changes, it shows that they are keeping current.
For timing when the best chances of rain/temp./ wind are;
https://www.google.com/#q=hilo+hi+weather+forecast
For amounts;
https://www.wunderground.com/us/hi/hilo
Long range outlook- while not specifically accurate this is good for trends;
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/hilo-hi/96720/march-weather/328444?monyr=3/1/2017&view=table
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quote:
Originally posted by Ino
More than one full week of dry wx coming up?
Here? Are you kidding?
Most areas will have a dry week but it does depend on where you live?
Puna, 700 ft. You did say to conserve water, so I thought you might be aware of a long term dry trend. Thanks for the links. I like to check this one out, to monitor what different areas of the Big Island, and elsewhere in the state. are getting for rainfall.
http://weather.hawaii.edu/current/bulletins.cgi?bulletin=rain&banner=uhmet&timequeue=4&productqueue=3
