If
you are coming to Hawaiʻi or even if you live here, it is important to know
what the weather will be. Most of what one does on the island is weather
dependent and that is something that we cannot control. There are a few
websites which I use that are very good at giving you information regarding the
weather.
Usually,
the first one I check is: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=hkm&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no,
which will give you the current weather radar for the upper half of the island.
The radar is located on Kohala Mountain so there are some areas that it does
not reach. For example, it cannot reach the upper portions of Mauna Kea and
Mauna Loa, or even Kohala. But it does give a good idea of where it is raining.
To get the southern part of the island go to: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=hwa&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no.
This one is located near South Point and is blocked by Mauna Loa to the north.
It does, however, give you good coverage of Volcanoes National Park and the
Hilo area.
The
next site I check is: http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/hawobs.cgi?banner=uhmet.
This is a University of Hawaiʻi Department of Meteorology site, The first page
will give wind directions throughout the State and weather at selected
locations. On the left side of the page are links to some good sites. The Satellite
Imagery link will take you to a page
where you can see satellite data for infrared and water vapor sensor. I find
the Hawaiʻi Wide View the most useful, Click on it and you will get an enlarged
view which you can set in motion by clicking on the animation at the bottom of
the picture. This gives you a good idea of what is coming.
Also
on that Department of Meteorology site is a link to Tropical Weather which is
useful in the hurricane season from June through November. You can get
information on any systems in the Central Pacific or, for that matter, in the
Eastern Pacific or Atlantic.
For
weather forecasts go to: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/
which is a National Weather Service site, You can click on a location on the
map and get a forecast for that specific place. Also on the left side of that page
isa link that says Forecasts Hawaiʻi. Click on that and then go to Graphic
Forecasts at the top of the list. That will take you to a map of the State and
forecasts every three hours. If you click on the Big Island header you will get
a detailed map of Hawaiʻi Island and clicking on the forecast times will change
the data on the map.
Another
interesting site is: http://weather.mhpcc.hawaii.edu/wrf/hawaii2/rainfall.html.
This is an experimental site from the Haleakala Weather Center which you can
set in motion at the bottom of the map. It will give detailed rain forecasts
for three days.
If
you are planning to to Mauna Kea check: http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/forecast/mko/index.cgi.
This is the site of the Mauna Kea Weather Center where you can check current
conditions and also check on web cams from every observatory.
With
these sites you will have a good idea of what may be ahead of you on the
island, When we were running tours I would check them every morning before
starting out.
