Weather forecasters are anticipating a mild, if rainy, Christmas.
Weather forecasters are anticipating a mild, if rainy, Christmas.
Bob Burke, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said a high-pressure system from the north-northeast will bring a trade wind weather pattern to the island through the weekend and into early next week.
Easterly trade winds can be expected during the next several days, with passing showers occurring over the windward side of Hawaii Island and a few afternoon and evening showers on the Kona side, he said Thursday.
While it was still a little too early to predict, Burke said, “there is a potential to have some more moisture move in from the east, so we could see some increase in rainfall as we head into Christmas itself.”
Predictions on Thursday showed a potential increase in rain late Monday or Tuesday, “indicating maybe a little wetter trade wind pattern.”
No snow is expected at higher elevations on the island. Burke said moisture that’s been moving in is “too shallow,” and there is no precipitation falling at those elevations.
Earlier this week, a weather front moved across the islands and stalled near the Big Island, bringing with it rainy conditions.
As of Thursday afternoon, Burke said Pahoa received about 2.5 inches in the previous 24 hours, Hilo International Airport had seen about three-quarters of an inch, while other windward sites generally received about 1 to 1 1/2 inches of rain in the prior 24 hours.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
