East Hawaii will bid farewell to 2019 with typical trade wind patterns, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
Gavin Shigesato, NWS meteorologist, said East Hawaii will be in a regular trade wind pattern through today before the winds begins to shift out of the southeast and weaken.
On New Year’s Day, Shigesato said it looks like winds will be “shifting toward the southeasterly angle, then becoming pretty light.”
According to Shigesato, there is approximately a 50% chance of rain into today, but no big weather system will be working its way across Hawaii on Wednesday.
Through Thursday and Friday, temperatures will be near normal and “nothing out of the ordinary.”
Highs in Hilo are expected to reach the upper 70s, with lows into the mid-60s.
However, Shigesato said the shifting winds coming on New Year’s Day and into Wednesday night also could create the potential for cooler temps next week.
By the end of the week, however, a front is expected to move through the state.
According to the NWS, showers along the front will reach Kauai on Thursday and move past the Big Island on Friday.
Strong northeast trade winds will spread across the state behind the front.
Shigesato said a high wind warning is in effect on the summits of Maunakea and Mauna Loa until 6 p.m. today.
East winds from 35 mph to 60 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph are expected on the Big Island summits above 11,000 feet.
According to the NWS, travel to the summits should be postponed.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Monday morning tweeted that the Mauna Loa summit was closed due to severe winter weather, although Red Hill Cabin remained open.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
