Oahu Faces Strong Trade Winds and High Surf Through Thursday

Honolulu woke to light rain as strong east-northeast trade winds pushed across Oahu, with gusts expected to reach 35 mph.

Temperatures in the metropolis are projected to climb to roughly 83 degrees, though passing showers and brisk winds will give the day a more dynamic feel than a typical mostly sunny outlook implies. Isolated showers are expected through Thursday, with the highest coverage generally near windward and mountain areas. NWS Honolulu notes that a dissipating front pushing southward over the islands may send a few stray showers into leeward zones.

As noted by Hoodline, Thursday’s east-northeast winds will sustain speeds of 18 to 24 mph alongside gusts reaching 35 mph, prior to a slight decrease on Friday. Although the National Weather Service lifted the Wind Advisory, outdoor structures, exposed roadways, and unsheltered locations may still experience powerful gusts of trade wind.

Friday should bring isolated showers before noon, mostly sunny skies and a high near 83 degrees. A High Surf Advisory remains in effect through 6 p.m. Thursday for north-facing Oahu shores, including the North Shore, along with west-facing areas.

While Thursday afternoon should see a slow subsiding of the sizeable north-northwest swell that reached about 11 feet at Waimea Bay, strong trades will maintain choppy and rough conditions along east-facing beaches. A Small Craft Advisory covers all Hawaiian waters through 6 a.m. Friday, with seas above 10 feet and fresh to near-gale-force winds offshore.

Saturday features a high near 83 degrees along with more scattered showers, giving way to a brighter Sunday where temperatures will peak around 84. Winds from the trades may pick up once more over the weekend—specifically Saturday night into Sunday—featuring gusts up to 32 mph before slowly subsiding at the start of the following week.

Generally mostly sunny conditions are anticipated for Monday and Tuesday, accompanied by mid-80s highs and potential sporadic afternoon showers. Throughout the majority of this timeframe, nighttime temperatures will hover close to 75 degrees, ensuring Honolulu stays warm during brief interludes of rain.