Calm – Cloudlessly-clear but Voggy Skies ~ Very High Surf Warnings

Littoral explosions shot up from the base of the strong lava ocean entry plume at Waikupanaha last night to the delight of the hundreds of people gathered under a star-studded sky, half moon and the planet Jupiter.

This show may get even better tonight because magma inflation pressures are on the rise and will likely send more lava down the underground plumbing system and into the sea. It might be a good idea to phone the lava viewing hotline at 961-8093 this afternoon before heading out to the area because this morning light & variable winds could easily cause a shutdown due to toxic plume gasses blowing over.

The Halema’uma’u crater in the Kilauea Volcano caldera also has a strong and windless directed plume this morning. The photo below is taken off the Jaggar museum webcam situated on top the Hawai’i Volcanoes Observatory building in the National Park at 10:00 AM.


Hawai’i weather synopsis:
“A weak cold front will affect the state this afternoon through Christmas day, bringing some showers to mainly windward locations. The front will dissipate over the islands by Saturday, but high pressure moving north of the state will usher in a period of light to moderate trades into early next week. Leftover moisture in the area from the dissipated front will continue to bring the threat for passing windward and mauka showers.”

Surf:
Another series of north generated waves are heading across Hawaiian waters through the Christmas holidays. High Surf Warnings are up now: “SURF ALONG NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU AND KAUAI...AND
ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES OF OAHU...MOLOKAI AND MAUI WILL BE 10 TO 15 FEET THIS MORNING. SURF WILL BEGIN TO RISE RAPIDLY FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE STATE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SURF HEIGHTS REACHING 22 TO 28 FEET BY THIS EVENING. SURF HEIGHTS OF 30 TO 40 FEET WITH LOCALLY HIGHER SETS ON OUTER REEFS ARE EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT AND FRIDAY”