Issued: May 24, 2013 2:00 AM HST

Based on data through 2:00 am May 24 2013 HST

High clouds moving from the west-southwest have been generating occasional ceilings over the isles this early morning.

Low cloud ceilings, some with embedded showers, have been favoring windward and mauka sections on the individual isles. This has been especially the case over Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island. The one area where broken to overcast low clouds and precipitation have been most persistent, however, has been in leeward Kohala on the Big Island, over Kawaihae and in its vicinity. Low cloudiness has been scattered elsewhere around the aloha state. Low cloud movement is from the east to east-northeast at 10 to 20 mph across most of the state, with speeds decreasing from east to west. Speeds are near 25 mph immediately southeast and south of the Big Island.

In the adjacent coastal waters, broken low clouds, a mix of showery and stable elements, are widespread northeast clockwise through south of the Big Island. Low cloudiness is also prevalent west clockwise through northeast of Kauai as of bulletin time. Discounting high clouds, conditions are clear to scattered elsewhere.

An upper trough, above 25 thousand feet, is more than 500 miles west of Kauai and appears to be nearly stationary, according to the most recent water vapor images. Embedded within the trough are lows near 23°N 168.5°W and 13°N 177°W. The winds on the east side of the trough axis are from the southwest and west-southwest, and are carrying the high clouds over the Hawaiian islands as stated in the lead paragraph.

The front that had been near Midway atoll last evening appears to be dissipating. Winds remain from the southwest between 15 and 20 mph, and low cloudiness has decreased in the area according to the latest surface observations from the site. On the other hand, satellite imagery indicates various amounts of middle and high clouds in the area.

Finally, convection has decreased in intensity over the past several hours along the intertropical convergence zone far south of Hawaii. Most of the showers and thunderstorms that remain are currently firing from 07°N to 11°N east of 147°W, from 02°N to 05°N between 153°W and 162°W, and from 04.5°N to 09°N west of 167°W.

KINEL