Hawaii, 2002

Strong Wind in Hawaii, February 26 to 27, 2002

February 26 to 27, 2002 · NWS HFO · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A tight pressure gradient across the eastern part of the island chain, caused by a surface trough east of the Big Island and a strong surface high north of the state, produced east to east/northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts to 55 mph, over leeward sections of the Big Island of Hawaii and in Maui and Lanai. No serious property damage or injuries were reported, however.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS HFO wrote it up.

A tight pressure gradient across the eastern part of the island chain, caused by a surface trough east of the Big Island and a strong surface high north of the state, produced east to east/northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts to 55 mph, over leeward sections of the Big Island of Hawaii and in Maui and Lanai. No serious property damage or injuries were reported, however.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Honolulu, HI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 26, 10:00 AM HST, 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 26, 10:00 AM HST, 50 minutes before
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
10 AM HST TUE FEB 26 2002

SUMMARY...A STRONG 1037 MB HIGH NORTHEAST OF THE STATE WILL MAINTAIN
BRISK TRADE WINDS TODAY...WITH A GRADUAL DECLINE WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY. THE MID-LEVEL LOW IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN TO A TROUGH
TONIGHT AND MOVE OFF TO THE EAST OF THE STATE ON WEDNESDAY. THIS
SHOULD END THE THREAT OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BY LATER
TONIGHT...IF NOT EARLIER. PASSING SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE INTO
WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE OTHER ISLANDS.

DISCUSSION...THE MID-LEVEL OR KONA LOW TO THE SOUTH OF THE STATE
THAT HAS BEEN CAUSING ALL THE HEAVY RAINFALL AND THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY OVER THE BIG ISLAND IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN AND MOVE EASTWARD
ON WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL PUT THE STATE UNDER A MUCH MORE STABLE
NORTHWEST FLOW AROUND A MID-LEVEL RIDGE...WHICH SHOULD RETURN
CONDITIONS TO THE MORE NORMAL TRADE WIND PATTERN STATEWIDE.
MEANWHILE AT THE SURFACE...STRONG HIGH PRESSURE NORTHEAST OF THE
STATE WILL MAINTAIN BRISK TRADE WINDS TODAY...WITH DIMINISHING
SPEEDS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY AS A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH JUST
EAST OF HILO MOVES AWAY TO THE EAST. FARRELL

.HFO.....WARNINGS.....FLASH FLOOD NORTH...EAST AND SOUTH BIG ISLAND
                      GALE ALL CHANNELS
.        WATCHES......FLOOD MAUI AND BIG ISLAND
.        ADVISORIES...SMALL CRAFT COASTAL WATERS

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Lanai

When
February 26, 10:50 AM HST to February 27, 8:00 AM HST
Where
Lanai forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Maui

When
February 26, 10:50 AM HST to February 27, 8:00 AM HST
Where
Maui forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, West Hawaii

When
February 26, 10:50 AM HST to February 27, 8:00 AM HST
Where
West Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, February 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5281148, 5281149, 5281150.