Hawaii, 2016

Drought in Hawaii, June 1 to 30, 2016

June 1 to 30, 2016 · NWS HFO · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

The D2 level of severe drought (in the Drought Monitor) persisted over portions of Maui and the Big Island through the entire month, though there was steady improvement in parts of leeward and south Big Island.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
5

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.

The D2 level of severe drought (in the Drought Monitor) persisted over portions of Maui and the Big Island through the entire month, though there was steady improvement in parts of leeward and south Big Island.

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 May 31, 9:15 PM HST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 9:15 PM HST, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Honolulu HI
915 PM HST TUE MAY 31 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A high north of the area will produce locally breezy trade winds
that will push a shower band over the islands and keep windward
areas rather wet through tomorrow. It will turn drier starting
Wednesday night as the shower band shifts south and dissipates.
Winds will also subside as a low approaches from the northeast.
Daytime sea breezes and nighttime land breezes will prevail from
Friday through Monday with afternoon clouds and showers over
interior areas. A new high will build north of the area next week
bringing a return to breezy trade winds and windward showers.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Surface analyses show a 1027 MB surface high 730 miles north of
Kauai at 33N 160W. The high is producing locally breezy trade winds
over the main Hawaiian Islands. Satellite loops show a band of
showery low clouds extending east northeast from over the windward
sides of the islands. The trade winds are nearly parallel to this
cloud band so they will continue to carry these clouds over the
islands. Windward areas will remain rather cloudy and showery
through tomorrow and some showers will spread leeward on the smaller
islands. The cloud band will gradually shift south and break up
through tomorrow night and windward showers will taper off.

The global models are in good agreement showing the high weakening
and a trough moving toward the islands from the northeast. Winds
over the area will become gentle by Friday night and remain rather
light through next Monday. This light low-level flow will allow land
and sea breezes to prevail. This means muggy weather with afternoon
clouds and showers and clear, cool nights and mornings. The
atmosphere will remain fairly stable, so widespread heavy rain is
not expected, but localized heavy showers are possible.

Starting around next Tuesday, the surface trough will dissipate and
a new high will build north of the islands. Trade winds will return
Tuesday and become breezy by the middle of next week. The trades
will bring an end to the muggy weather and afternoon showers and a
return to windward showers.

&&

.AVIATION...
ENE winds near the surface will carry remnants of an old front over
the main Hawaiian Islands and produce occasional MVFR ceilings and
VSBY over N thru E sections. Most terminals will have VFR
conditions, but PHLI will have TEMPO MVFR ceilings thru this evening
and PHTO will likely have MVFR ceilings through Wednesday. Improving
conditions will likely spread SE across the area thru tomorrow, but
AIRMET SIERRA for MTN OBSC will likely remain up thru Wednesday for
some areas.

&&

.MARINE...
A surface high north of the will produce moderate to fresh trade
winds through Wednesday. We expect winds to remain below the small-
craft-advisory threshold, but winds in the windier areas around Maui
and the Big Island will be close to the advisory level. Winds will
subside starting Wednesday evening as the high weakens and a trough
approaches from the northeast. Light to gentle winds are expected
over the weekend. Trade winds will strengthen again by the middle of
next week as the low dissipates and a new high builds north of the
area.

&&

.HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

Donaldson

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Kona

When
June 1, 12:00 AM HST to June 30, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Kona forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Big Island Interior

When
June 1, 12:00 AM HST to June 30, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Big Island Interior forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Maui Central Valley

When
June 1, 12:00 AM HST to June 30, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Maui Central Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor

Drought, Leeward Haleakala

When
June 1, 12:00 AM HST to June 30, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Leeward Haleakala forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor

Drought, South Big Island

When
June 1, 12:00 AM HST to June 30, 11:59 PM HST
Where
South Big Island forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, June 2016

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: 634758, 634760, 634762, 634764, 634768.