Tornado in Hawaii, March 24, 2002

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
10 AM HST SUN MAR 24 2002

SUMMARY...A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAS FORMED TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE
ISLANDS. A CLOUD BAND WITH SOME HEAVY SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
LOW EXTENDS IN OVER THE WESTERN END OF THE STATE COVERING MAINLY
KAUAI AND NIIHAU. THESE HEAVY SHOWERS WILL BE PRESENT OFF AND ON
DURING THE NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS.

DISCUSSION...CLOUD AND WATER VAPOR SIGNATURES ON THE SATELLITE
IMAGERY SHOW A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPING TO THE NORTHWEST OF
KAUAI. THIS LOW IS LIKE A KONA LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OR A CUTOFF LOW
OF THE TYPE THAT FORMS OVER THE LOWER LATITUDES IN RESPONSE TO
BLOCKING FARTHER NORTH. THIS LOW IS LOCATED...OR WILL BE LOCATED...
IN ABOUT THE RIGHT PLACE WITH RESPECT TO KAUAI AND NIIHAU TO GIVE
THESE ISLANDS SOME HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. AT THE
MOMENT THERE ARE NO THUNDERSTORMS IN OUR VICINITY HOWEVER THAT COULD
CHANGE.

THE CLOUD BAND OVER THE WESTERN ISLANDS EXTEND SOUTHWEST AND AT
UPPER LEVELS IS CONNECTED TO A TROPICAL SYSTEM CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR
JUST WEST OF THE LINE ISLANDS. A SMALL WAVE ON THIS FRONT OR CLOUD
BAND IS LOCATED TO THE SOUTHWEST OF KAUAI AND MAY SCOOT
NORTHEASTWARD AND ENHANCE THE RAINFALL OVER THE GARDEN ISLE LATER
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. OTHERWISE THE MOTHER LOW OR TROUGH TO
THE NORTHWEST WILL MOVE VERY LITTLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE
SURFACE LOW WILL THEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BE DRIFTING FIRST
NW AND THEN MAKE A SMALL LOOP TOWARD THE SW AND S AND LATER SE AND E
AND FINALLY LIFT OUT TO THE NE ABOUT FRIDAY. DURING THIS PERIOD
THERE COULD THEREFORE BE A THREAT OF SHOWERS AGAIN LATER THIS WEEK
AS THE LOW APPROACHES FROM THE WEST.  ROSENDAL

.HFO...WARNINGS.....NONE
.      WATCHES......FLOOD WATCH FOR KAUAI
.      ADVISORIES...SMALL CRAFT ALL CHANNELS