High Surf in Hawaii, May 26 to 28, 2019

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Honolulu HI
949 AM HST Sun May 26 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
Light trade winds can be expected today with just a few passing
showers favoring windward and mauka areas. Winds will become
lighter over the next couple of days as a front lingers northwest
of the area. High pressure will build back in beginning Wednesday
with a gradual uptick in trade winds expected through the
remainder of the week. Clouds and passing showers will favor
windward and mauka areas with just a few light showers expected
over select leeward locations.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
High pressure is centered far northeast of the area while a stalled
frontal boundary lies a couple of hundred miles northwest of
Kauai. This places the islands in a light easterly trade wind
environment. Moisture embedded in the trades is providing for some
light passing showers over windward and mauka areas while most
leeward locations are dry. Expect this trend to continue through
the day today with local sea breezes setting up in some sheltered
locations.

The high will shift slightly eastward Monday and Tuesday. This
will cause the winds to become a bit lighter and favor and east to
slightly south of east direction. Daytime sea breezes and
nighttime land breezes will become more prevalent under these
conditions. Passing light showers will continue to favor windward
and mauka areas with some interior showers a possibility during
the afternoon hours due to day time heating and sea breeze
convergence.

By Wednesday, the high to the northeast will build back in a bit
toward the area as the old frontal boundary northwest of Kauai
weakens and drifts further away from the area. This will allow for
a gradual uptick in trade winds beginning Wednesday with speeds
reaching moderate to locally breezy levels as we head into next
weekend. Clouds and passing showers will favor windward and mauka
areas with leeward areas remaining essentially dry.

&&

.AVIATION...
High pressure to the northeast will drive moderate trade winds
through tonight before winds shift east southeast on Monday.
Clouds and showers moving in with the trade winds will focus over
windward slopes. VFR conditions will prevail, but brief mountain
obscurations may occur over the windward slopes. No AIRMETs are
in effect at this time.

&&

.MARINE...
Winds are on the decline as the high far to the northeast slowly
weakens. Expect lighter winds into Wednesday. A ridge building
north of the islands during the second half of the week should
allow winds to rebound into the breezy to strong range.

The incoming south swell appears to be leveling off, with the
resultant surf just below advisory levels. Will continue to
monitor reports as this swell is expected to peak today and
Monday, before lowering Tuesday. A new long-period, although
slightly smaller, south swell is expected to arrive Tuesday and
hold into the middle of the week. Additional small south swells
are expected during the second half of the week.

A small northwest swell associated with a gale that crossed the
date line a few days ago is expected to begin to slowly ease
Monday through Tuesday. Another north-northwest swell is possible
Thursday. Surf along east facing shores will remain somewhat
elevated through today due to the recent breezy to strong trades
upwind from the islands. Expect a downward trend by Memorial Day
as the trades marginally weaken.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...Burke
AVIATION...Foster
MARINE...Kinel