Slight increase in windward showers through Thursday, mostly dry Memorial Day weekend

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Breezy trade winds will continue over the Kauai and Oahu, while lighter east winds cover Maui County and Hawaii Island through Wednesday. Showers will mainly fall over windward and mauka overnight and in the morning, with some showers developing in the interior and leeward sections of Oahu and Kauai on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Statewide, moderate to breezy easterly trade winds will return Wednesday night into Thursday and persist through early next week, with showers favoring typical windward and mountain areas of the state.

A low-pressure system is situated around 400 miles northwest of Kauai, and a high-pressure system is centered about 1500 miles northeast of Honolulu. This setup will keep moderate to breezy trade winds over the eastern islands and light to moderate east-southeast winds over the western islands into Wednesday. Rain chances are expected to increase for windward areas statewide tonight into Wednesday as this moisture moves east.

Moderate to breezy easterly trade winds will spread across the state on Thursday as the low northwest of the state shifts westward and away, and the high-pressure system to the northeast moves north. A series of reinforcing high-pressure systems will build north of the state from Friday through early next week. This will maintain moderate to breezy trade winds across the islands. Additionally, drier air from the east will bring a more stable trade wind pattern, with mainly windward and mountain showers and occasional spillover into leeward areas. Showers will mostly occur overnight and in the early morning. This pattern is expected to persist through early next week.

HFO Watches/Warnings/Advisories:

Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM HST Thursday for Maui County Windward Waters, Pailolo Channel, Alenuihaha Channel, Big Island Windward Waters, Big Island Leeward Waters, Big Island Southeast Waters.