Issued: Jul 03, 2009 7:30 PM HST
Based on data through 7:00 pm Jul 03 2009 HST
Broken stratocumulus clouds buildups are persisting over mauka areas throughout the state this evening with valleys and coastlines remaining partly cloudy. Some light to moderate showers are just off the west coast of Niihau moving to the west. Most of the central and leeward side of Kauai, the kaulakahi channel and Niihau have broken skies overhead. Over Oahu, the Koolau and Waianae ranges have cloud buildups over them as well as northeastern portions of Molokai and Lanai. West Maui and the slopes of Haleakala are also covered while the peak of Haleakala remains mostly clear. The peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are currently partly cloudy with the remainder of the Big Island under the low cloud buildups. Over the surrounding coastal waters, mostly clear skies with some widely scattered patches of cumulus and stratocumulus clouds are present. The prevailing cloud motion is westerly at 15 mph across the area.
An upper trough remains nearly stationary just east of the state. The most recent water vapor images and satellite wind data show the axis of the system to be along a line from 24°N 152°W to 16°N 157°W to 12°N 159°W. Broken high clouds have formed 150 miles east of the trough axis. Further eastward an area of moderate convection is moving to the north at 15 mph. This convective area is currently south of 15°N and bounded east to west by 146°W and 153°W. A few lightning strikes and cumulonimbus clouds have been observed.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are firing along the intertropical convergence zone south of 10°N. Most of the activity is currently igniting from the equator to 07°N and 164°W to the international dateline and also from 03°N to 11°N and 141°W to 154°W.
Elsewhere, a 900 mile long and 250 mile wide area of cirrus clouds are moving to the east northeast at 20 mph along an axis of 22°N 166°W and 14°N 177°W.
High clouds are also moving over the far northwestern Hawaiian islands at this time. These are associated with a front extending from a deep surface low centered at 42°N 178°W.
