~ Winter storm sweeps Hawaiian Islands ~

Yesterday on the National Weather Service Forecast Office Honolulu I saw more warnings and watches posted of the Hawaiian Islands than I’ve ever seen at one time:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Flash Flood Warning

Special Marine Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Flash Flood Watch

Flood Advisory

High Surf Advisory

Small Craft Advisory

Wind Advisory

Winter Storm Watch

Marine Weather Statement

Short Term Forecast

Kauai was the first to feel the effects of an intense winter cold trough that is pushing down overtop the island chain. Warm southern air is being sucked up into the storm system and producing some serious wind, rain and thunderstorm conditions. Click this text for current > Hawaii Island radar rain loop

Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Maui have all had a brush with the leading edge of the progressing storm, now it is the Big Island’s turn it seems: it is approaching our normally dry west side now and is expected to drench the island over the next 24-hours. See the various images and links for the latest. Click HERE to open the site with these interactive weather maps of Hawaii; like the one above.

Click on this highlighted link to open the Hawaii Islands water vapor loop (Right now it's looking pretty cool as the sheer-line of the storm is now slicing into the Big Isle:

I saved some of the more excited storm reports and then collected key lines or statements to share these snippets here with you: (This is an ongoing storm event so the list is incomplete)

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
1009 PM HST THU DEC 9 2010

* AT 1005 PM HST...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE STORMS FROM 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF TURTLE BAY TO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KAENA POINT...MOVING TO THE EAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS EXTENDED THE * FLOOD ADVISORY FOR THE ISLAND OF OAHU IN HONOLULU COUNTY...RADAR SHOWED MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN PERSISTENTLY DEVELOPING OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF OAHU. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE STRONG WINDS 34 KNOTS OR GREATER...AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO SURFACE LIGHTNING STRIKES.

IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...AND DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLAND OF KAUAI ...THE ROAD TO HANALEI REMAINS CLOSED DUE TO WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY.

FLASH FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING IN STREAMS...ROADS AND LOW LYING AREAS. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW.

MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT:

HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR NORTH AND EAST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU KAUAI OAHU MOLOKAI MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND...MARINERS CAN EXPECT GUSTY WINDS... LOCALLY HEAVY SEAS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN THE HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THUNDERSTORMS CAN ALSO PRODUCE WATERSPOUTS. SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY...UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. IF CAUGHT ON THE OPEN WATER...STAY BELOW DECK. IF POSSIBLE...KEEP AWAY FROM UNGROUNDED METAL OBJECTS.

ALSO...A LARGE NORTH SWELL WILL CONTINUE TO POSE A THREAT OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SURGES IN KAHULUI AND HILO HARBORS TONIGHT. THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE BREAKING WAVES NEAR THESE HARBOR ENTRANCES WILL ALSO PERSIST THROUGH TONIGHT. HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL SPREAD FROM COASTAL WATERS * SURF...SURF ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES WILL BE 10 TO 15 FEET... AND SURF ALONG EAST FACING SHORES WILL BE 6 TO 10 FEET.

* IMPACTS...INEXPERIENCED SWIMMERS SHOULD AVOID ENTERING THE WATER ALONG NORTH AND EAST FACING SHORES WHERE DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS CAN OVERPOWER EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMERS.

A WINTER STORM WATCH:
THE APPROACH OF AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FROM THE WEST WILL CAUSE SUMMIT TEMPERATURES TO DROP BELOW FREEZING FRIDAY NIGHT. ABUNDANT MOISTURE MOVING UP FROM THE SOUTH ALONG WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES MEANS POSSIBLE HEAVY SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT … THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL...HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE ON THE SUMMITS OF MAUNA LOA AND MAUNA KEA... SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES IS POSSIBLE ABOVE 12 THOUSAND FEET ...

Hawaii Island Mosaic radar image
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Geminid meteor showers are showing soon: The peak will be on the night of December 13/14, 2010. I hope the clouds move off by then.

Lava report unchanged from yesterday.