Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Puako, HI
May 17, 2024 2:48 PM HST (00:48 UTC) Change Location
 | Sunrise 5:42 AM Sunset 6:51 PM Moonrise 2:18 PM Moonset 2:13 AM |
PHZ121 Alenuihaha Channel- 925 Am Hst Fri May 17 2024
Rest of today - East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave detail: east southeast 4 feet at 6 seconds, northwest 3 feet at 11 seconds and south southwest 3 feet at 16 seconds. Scattered showers late this morning. Isolated showers this afternoon.
Tonight - East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave detail: east southeast 4 feet at 6 seconds and south southwest 3 feet at 15 seconds. Isolated showers.
Saturday - East northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave detail: east southeast 4 feet at 5 seconds and south southwest 3 feet at 15 seconds. Isolated showers.
Saturday night - East northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave detail: east northeast 5 feet at 5 seconds and south 3 feet at 19 seconds. Isolated showers in the evening. Scattered showers after midnight.
Sunday - East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave detail: east northeast 4 feet at 5 seconds and south 3 feet at 17 seconds. Scattered showers in the morning. Isolated showers in the afternoon.
Sunday night - East northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 5 feet. Wave detail: east 4 feet at 5 seconds and south 3 feet at 17 seconds. Isolated showers.
Monday - East northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Wave detail: east northeast 4 feet at 5 seconds and south 3 feet at 15 seconds. Isolated showers.
Tuesday - East northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, easing to 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 4 to 6 feet. Wave detail: east northeast 5 feet at 5 seconds. Isolated showers.
PHZ100 925 Am Hst Fri May 17 2024
Synopsis for hawaiian coastal waters - A kona low will remain far northwest of the area into the weekend, then slowly lift northward and away from the region Sunday through early next week.
FXHW60 PHFO 171950 AFDHFO
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Honolulu HI 950 AM HST Fri May 17 2024
SYNOPSIS
A kona low north of the state will continue drawing unstable tropical moisture northward over the western islands into Saturday. The focus for the heaviest rain will be Oahu initially today, then shift westward to Kauai this evening and Saturday.
The kona low will begin slowly drift away from the state this weekend with improving trends spreading from east to west, though enhanced rainfall may linger over Kauai and Niihau into Sunday. By Monday all islands will see an improvement in weather conditions as easterly trade winds return.
DISCUSSION
Latest satellite imagery shows a kona low located roughly 730 nm northwest of Kauai. A decaying stationary front is currently located over Oahu, which is serving as a focus for moderate to locally heavy showers this morning. Radar estimates and rain gauges are showing that rainfall rates are currently in the 1-2 inch per hour range, which has resulted in some nuisance flooding and elevated streams across Oahu. 24 hour rainfall totals across Oahu have exceeded 10 inches in some locations, and the ground remains highly saturated and susceptible to runoff and flooding should heavy rain continue to move over the island. A Flood Watch remains in effect for Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu today, but changes to the watch area are likely by this afternoon.
Latest guidance and radar trends suggest that this main band of rain will slowly move west throughout the day, focusing mainly within the Kauai Channel this afternoon and eventually the island of Kauai by this evening. The main change to the previous forecast has been to slow this westward progression a bit, but still think that conditions should improve across Oahu by early afternoon. Of note, some of the latest hi-res guidance has been largely discounted, namely the ARW and FV3, which do not appear to have initialized correctly.
Focus will then shift to Kauai this evening, where this rain band will provide widespread moderate but pockets of heavy rain to the Garden Isle through at least Saturday. The main consideration for the island of Kauai will be how long the band lingers over the island before moving off to the northwest as the kona low exits the region. While consensus is that conditions will begin to improve by early Sunday, the flooding concerns could linger a bit longer should this be a slower transition. Models also are hinting that one last moisture surge back towards Oahu is possible on Saturday night, but confidence is low in this occurring at this time.
High pressure will slowly build into the region this weekend as the kona low exits the pattern to the north. Expect more stabilizing trends with decreasing showers as east to southeast winds spread across the state. Likely by Sunday, the moderate to heavy rainfall threat will diminish over Kauai as more stable conditions fill in across the state.
More typical easterly trade winds will return across the state from Monday onward with only brief passing showers in the forecast favoring the typical windward and mountain areas through the middle of next week.
AVIATION
A moist and unstable cloud band associated with a kona low far to our northwest is currently over Oahu and will slowly move west and affect Kauai later today. MVFR with embedded IFR conditions will continue affecting portions of Oahu this morning but then the focus will shift to Kauai as the cloud band moves west. Winds should remain out of the south-southeast through today. Lingering moisture could still bring short periods of MVFR conditions to any of the islands today and primarily focus over the southeast facing slopes.
AIRMET Sierra is in effect for Kauai, Oahu, and windward Big Island. IFR conds over Oahu will likely improve towards noon, but mountain obscuration will likely remain an issue for Oahu and Kauai through twenty-four hours.
AIRMET Tango is in effect for low level mechanical turbulence north through east of the Big Island and East Maui. Also upper level turbulence could be a possibility tomorrow morning.
Occasional light rime icing is expected from Kauai to Oahu in layer 140-FL250.
MARINE
Fresh to locally strong south to southeast winds associated with a kona low north-northwest of the state will persist through tonight. A shift out of the east to southeast direction is expected over the weekend through early next week as it lifts northward and away from the area. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the Windward and Leeward Big Island waters (Hamakua Coast and waters near South Point) through tonight. In addition to the winds, expect locally rough seas in heavy showers or storms that develop, with the best chances being over the waters west of Maui County. Seas should remain just below the advisory level over the exposed Kauai waters as a short-period northwest swell moves through (downward trend expected this weekend).
Surf along south facing shores will remain up through early next week due to overlapping, long-period south-southwest swells. The first swell has filled in and will peak today, likely holding at the advisory level into Saturday before briefly lowering.
Observations at offshore buoys 51003 and 51004 (51002 remains down) reflect this with the long-period peak energy now in the 15-17 second bands. Expect rough conditions for most southerly exposures today due to a combination of the onshore winds, swell, and periodic heavy showers moving through. As a result, a High Surf Advisory remains in effect through Saturday. A fresh, long- period south-southwest swell will fill in through the day Sunday, then peak at a similar level early next week before easing through midweek.
Surf along north and west facing shores will remain up into Saturday due to a short-period northwest swell generated from the kona low. This swell will lower over the weekend.
Surf along east facing shores will remain well below average through the weekend. An upward trend is possible next week as the trades return locally and far upstream over the eastern Pacific.
HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
Flood Watch until 8 PM HST this evening for Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu.
Wind Advisory until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island summits.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Saturday for Big Island Windward Waters-Big Island Leeward Waters.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST Saturday for south facing shores of all islands.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Honolulu HI 950 AM HST Fri May 17 2024
SYNOPSIS
A kona low north of the state will continue drawing unstable tropical moisture northward over the western islands into Saturday. The focus for the heaviest rain will be Oahu initially today, then shift westward to Kauai this evening and Saturday.
The kona low will begin slowly drift away from the state this weekend with improving trends spreading from east to west, though enhanced rainfall may linger over Kauai and Niihau into Sunday. By Monday all islands will see an improvement in weather conditions as easterly trade winds return.
DISCUSSION
Latest satellite imagery shows a kona low located roughly 730 nm northwest of Kauai. A decaying stationary front is currently located over Oahu, which is serving as a focus for moderate to locally heavy showers this morning. Radar estimates and rain gauges are showing that rainfall rates are currently in the 1-2 inch per hour range, which has resulted in some nuisance flooding and elevated streams across Oahu. 24 hour rainfall totals across Oahu have exceeded 10 inches in some locations, and the ground remains highly saturated and susceptible to runoff and flooding should heavy rain continue to move over the island. A Flood Watch remains in effect for Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu today, but changes to the watch area are likely by this afternoon.
Latest guidance and radar trends suggest that this main band of rain will slowly move west throughout the day, focusing mainly within the Kauai Channel this afternoon and eventually the island of Kauai by this evening. The main change to the previous forecast has been to slow this westward progression a bit, but still think that conditions should improve across Oahu by early afternoon. Of note, some of the latest hi-res guidance has been largely discounted, namely the ARW and FV3, which do not appear to have initialized correctly.
Focus will then shift to Kauai this evening, where this rain band will provide widespread moderate but pockets of heavy rain to the Garden Isle through at least Saturday. The main consideration for the island of Kauai will be how long the band lingers over the island before moving off to the northwest as the kona low exits the region. While consensus is that conditions will begin to improve by early Sunday, the flooding concerns could linger a bit longer should this be a slower transition. Models also are hinting that one last moisture surge back towards Oahu is possible on Saturday night, but confidence is low in this occurring at this time.
High pressure will slowly build into the region this weekend as the kona low exits the pattern to the north. Expect more stabilizing trends with decreasing showers as east to southeast winds spread across the state. Likely by Sunday, the moderate to heavy rainfall threat will diminish over Kauai as more stable conditions fill in across the state.
More typical easterly trade winds will return across the state from Monday onward with only brief passing showers in the forecast favoring the typical windward and mountain areas through the middle of next week.
AVIATION
A moist and unstable cloud band associated with a kona low far to our northwest is currently over Oahu and will slowly move west and affect Kauai later today. MVFR with embedded IFR conditions will continue affecting portions of Oahu this morning but then the focus will shift to Kauai as the cloud band moves west. Winds should remain out of the south-southeast through today. Lingering moisture could still bring short periods of MVFR conditions to any of the islands today and primarily focus over the southeast facing slopes.
AIRMET Sierra is in effect for Kauai, Oahu, and windward Big Island. IFR conds over Oahu will likely improve towards noon, but mountain obscuration will likely remain an issue for Oahu and Kauai through twenty-four hours.
AIRMET Tango is in effect for low level mechanical turbulence north through east of the Big Island and East Maui. Also upper level turbulence could be a possibility tomorrow morning.
Occasional light rime icing is expected from Kauai to Oahu in layer 140-FL250.
MARINE
Fresh to locally strong south to southeast winds associated with a kona low north-northwest of the state will persist through tonight. A shift out of the east to southeast direction is expected over the weekend through early next week as it lifts northward and away from the area. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the Windward and Leeward Big Island waters (Hamakua Coast and waters near South Point) through tonight. In addition to the winds, expect locally rough seas in heavy showers or storms that develop, with the best chances being over the waters west of Maui County. Seas should remain just below the advisory level over the exposed Kauai waters as a short-period northwest swell moves through (downward trend expected this weekend).
Surf along south facing shores will remain up through early next week due to overlapping, long-period south-southwest swells. The first swell has filled in and will peak today, likely holding at the advisory level into Saturday before briefly lowering.
Observations at offshore buoys 51003 and 51004 (51002 remains down) reflect this with the long-period peak energy now in the 15-17 second bands. Expect rough conditions for most southerly exposures today due to a combination of the onshore winds, swell, and periodic heavy showers moving through. As a result, a High Surf Advisory remains in effect through Saturday. A fresh, long- period south-southwest swell will fill in through the day Sunday, then peak at a similar level early next week before easing through midweek.
Surf along north and west facing shores will remain up into Saturday due to a short-period northwest swell generated from the kona low. This swell will lower over the weekend.
Surf along east facing shores will remain well below average through the weekend. An upward trend is possible next week as the trades return locally and far upstream over the eastern Pacific.
HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
Flood Watch until 8 PM HST this evening for Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu.
Wind Advisory until 6 PM HST this evening for Big Island summits.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Saturday for Big Island Windward Waters-Big Island Leeward Waters.
High Surf Advisory until 6 PM HST Saturday for south facing shores of all islands.
toggle option: (graph/table)
| Airport | Dist | Age | Wind kt | Vis | Sky | Weather | Temp | DewPt | RH | inHg |
| PHKO ELLISON ONIZUKA KONA INTL AT KEAHOLE,HI | 24 sm | 55 min | W 09 | 10 sm | Partly Cloudy | 84°F | 72°F | 66% | 29.92 | |
| PHSF BRADSHAW ARMY AIRFIELD,HI | 24 sm | 53 min | W 16 | 10 sm | Partly Cloudy | 77°F | 61°F | 57% | 30.29 |
Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION
Kawaihae, Hawaii Island, Hawaii, Tide feet
Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION
Kailua Kona, Hawaii Island, Hawaii, Tide feet
Kamuela/Honolulu,HI
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