Latest news with #tradeWinds
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Vog to move up island chain due to E/SE winds
HONOLULU (KHON2) – A rather stable, light to moderate trade wind flow remains in place this afternoon. A surface trough lies between Hawaii and somewhat strong high pressure farther north, causing the local pressure gradient and resulting trade winds to weaker than usual, and a mid-level ridge sitting over the islands is maintaining stable conditions with an inversion based near 7,000 ft. A narrow slot of reduced moisture is producing minimal rainfall along windward areas this afternoon, and aside from scattered showers over the Kona slopes of the Big Island and Ulupalakua area of Upcountry Maui, leeward areas are dry. Shower activity over leeward Maui will dissipate quickly around sundown and will diminish overnight on the Big Island. Shower activity over windward areas will remain light, with the exception of a possible uptick near Kauai and Oahu near sunrise. Subtle changes are expected Monday and Tuesday. A surface trough will develop roughly 600 miles northwest of Kauai and cause local trade winds to veer out of the east to east-southeast, possibly causing afternoon leeward sea breezes to be more extensive on Kauai and Oahu. The inversion will weaken over these islands as well, suggesting higher chances for afternoon showers over leeward terrain. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
High Surf Advisory for south shores
HONOLULU (KHON2) – A stable, light to moderate trade wind flow will continue through Sunday. The trades will remain down from the past few days as the pressure gradient south of broad North Pacific surface high pressure stays relaxed due to a front far north of Hawaii. Aside from areas of thin high clouds, an upper-level trough parked over the region will have little effect. Diffuse bands of moisture moving along the trade wind flow will focus modest rainfall along windward slopes, and a band passing through late tonight and Sunday will mainly affect Kauai and Oahu. Aside from afternoon showers on the Big Island and Kauai, leeward areas should remain rather dry. Subtle changes are expected Monday and Tuesday. The above mentioned upper-level trough will deepen west of the state and induce a surface trough several hundred miles northwest of Kauai. The current south southwest (200 degree) swell will bring large breaking surf to all south facing shores through the day Sunday, then gradually decline early next week. A High Surf Advisory is in effect for south facing shores through 6 PM HST Sunday. No other significant south swell sources expected through the remainder of next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
A thick plume of Saharan dust is headed toward Florida
A plume of thick dust suspended in the atmosphere is moving westward across the Caribbean Sea and is expected to reach Florida on Wednesday. Areas in its path can expect haze, locally poor air quality and the potential for vibrant morning and evening skies. The plume has meandered thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean from its source on the continent of Africa, already reducing visibility in Puerto Rico and nearby locations. Technically called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), this dust is a relatively common feature overall. Carried westward by the trade winds that kick up hurricane season, it is also somewhat unusual to see SAL survive the journey across the ocean in this way. The dust will be thickest through Thursday, but the SAL eventually runs into an area of lighter winds aloft that will allow it to sit and dissipate around Florida through the rest of the week. There may be multiple days of fiery sunrises and sunsets as a result. As the name implies, the SAL is born in the desert of Africa. The dust is formed by light, dry sands and other minerals. They require a jet stream positioned correctly to send them westward. At other times, SAL might shoot northward toward Europe. This batch can be seen stirring up over Africa, particularly in and near Chad, during the latter part of May. The same winds that drive tropical disturbances westward off the African continent pick up the dust and move it along as well. Most years have some, but excessive levels of dust can augment storm development since it stifles cloud development and can lower sea surface temperatures if it lingers. Similar to dense wildfire smoke, fine particles contained in Saharan dust can be harmful if people are exposed persistently or in large quantity, particularly for anyone with respiratory issues. In the Caribbean and United States, by the time Saharan dust makes the 4,000-plus mile trek, it is typically mostly aloft with minimal impact on surface air quality. This minimizes risks to population but creates the appearance of thin clouds in midday skies. The current batch of SAL was passing Puerto Rico and surrounding locations Monday and will continue to do so Tuesday. San Juan weather observations showed periodic reports of haze and visibility as low as 6 miles over recent days. 'The SAL will result in degraded air quality and hazy skies across the islands,' the National Weather Service wrote in a technical discussion. '[It] will also contribute to warmer-than-normal temperatures, especially during nighttime hours, reducing radiational cooling and contributing to hotter minimum temperatures each morning.' High pressure to the north of the Caribbean and lower pressure in the eastern Gulf of Mexico will help draw the dust toward the Bahamas and Florida through Wednesday. Code yellow 'moderate' air quality conditions are forecast in South Florida given the likelihood of increased particulates in the air. The dust plume should eventually dissipate in and around the Sunshine State but some of it may reach other portions of the Gulf Coast and Southeast U.S. in lesser quantities. Although the SAL tends to squash precipitation chances versus what they would be without it, the two can intermix. In locations that occurs, some so-called dirty rain may fall. The dust particles floating in the atmospheric column where air rises and condenses into storms gets picked up, nucleates into raindrops then falls to earth. It's probably not so noticeable during rainfall, but when the storm has ended and the raindrops have dried, dusty residue is left behind. This is particularly true on metal or dark objects. It's difficult to make much of this and recent bouts of dusty air off the Sahara. Most seasons do have some and it is most common early in the season. Sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic basin are running above average for the date, and the same can be said in the main development region where tropical waves tend to form. Thus far, impact from dust has been minimal. Forecasts call for an active season, a common theme of the past decade in the Atlantic Ocean and across much of the globe.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Trade winds to weaken by Memorial Day
HONOLULU (KHON2) – At the surface, a strong high to the far northwest of the state and a weaker high to the far east-northeast are separated by a northeast-to-southwest oriented front heading eastward towards the West Coast of the mainland. This pair of highs will continue to bring moderate to locally breezy trade winds to the island chain through this weekend. As a broad low develops to the distant northeast early next week, it will weaken the high to the northwest, relax the local pressure gradient, and bring lighter trade winds to the area. This weaker flow will persist through much of next week and may allow for sea breeze development across some leeward areas, increasing clouds and bringing a slight chance of rain. Looking aloft, the upper level low that's been responsible for enhancing tradewind showers over the last day or two will gradually push eastward and away from the state over the next couple of days, with mid level ridging building overhead in its wake. A weak upper level trough/low will develop near the northwestern end of the state midweek, and sweep across the state on Wednesday. While this feature will introduce some instability aloft, moisture will still be limited, so not expecting it to cause much of an uptick in showers at this time. A strong mid level ridge will quickly build overhead in its wake, bringing more dry and stable conditions through the rest of the week. Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Sunday for Maalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Leeward Waters, Big Island Southeast Waters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Trade winds to persist into next weekend
HONOLULU (KHON2) – High pressure far northeast of Hawaii will drive breezy trade winds through the next week, with slight variations through the week. Cumulus clouds and scattered showers will move across the state pushed along by the trades, focusing mostly over windward and mauka sides of the islands. Isolated showers will pass over leeward areas of the smaller islands at times, but will not linger long. Most showers will fall during the overnight and early morning time frames, except for Big Island which will receive most of the showers during the afternoon. Overall rainfall amounts will be insignificant through midweek. An upper low moving across the state could increase shower coverage and intensity Thursday through next weekend, with a similar distribution across mostly the windward and mauka areas. Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM HST Monday for Kauai Northwest Waters, Kauai Leeward Waters, Kauai Channel, Oahu Windward Waters, Oahu Leeward Waters, Kaiwi Channel, Maui County Windward Waters, Maui County Leeward Waters, Maalaea Bay, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Leeward Waters, Big Island Southeast Waters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
