November’s heat wave continues, with more high temperature records broken Friday and Sunday in Hilo.
On Friday, the mercury hit 89, breaking the old record of 85 for that day which was set in 2015, according to information from the National Weather Service. And on Sunday, a high of 87 broke the record of 86 set on that date in 1970.
High temperature records in Hilo have been broken or were tied most days this month — on Nov. 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 — according to the NWS.
Sony Vang, Pacific region climates officer for NWS, said Monday that the difference between 2018 and 2019 is “fairly drastic for record high comparisons.”
Last year, only five temperature records were broken, he said. This year, through Sunday, 21 records have been broken.
While determining how 2019 compares to other years would require analysis of longer-term data, “2019 is definitely a lot warmer” than 2018, Vang said.
A meteorologist with the NWS in Honolulu said earlier this month that the higher temperatures are caused by warmer sea surface temperatures and a lack of robust trade winds that help stir the water.
Water surrounding the islands is 2-3 degrees warmer than normal, which generally translates to warmer temperatures, the meteorologist said.
According to Vang, the hottest daily record in November was 94 degrees on Nov. 28, 2013.
This week, the NWS said an unsettled weather pattern will persist throughout Hawaii today, with locally heavy rainfall and thunderstorms possible.
A showery, wet trade wind pattern is expected to hold through the weekend, and breezy to windy conditions are expected through Saturday.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
