Puna Weather
Thursday 12th March 2026
Today moderate winds from the south and very humid with scattered heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Friday south winds increase through the day to become strong and possibly damaging by night. Very humid with scattered heavy rain and strong thunderstorms.
Saturday very humid with strong south winds capable of causing power outages and periods of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms. Flooding is possible, especially for areas from Hilo south. There is a slight chance for even stronger winds gusts along the Hamakua coast from downsloping winds.
Sunday decreasing wind from the south and very humid with scattered heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Monday and Tuesday light winds and very humid with scattered heavy rain and thunderstorms.
A massive mid/upper-level trough to our northwest is bringing unsettled weather to our island into early next week. Surface pressures are lower under the trough and the gradient between this feature and a high to our northeast drives moisture southerly flow over us through Sunday (moisture anomaly cart).
The mid/upper-level trough also brings colder air aloft to the region creating instability. Small scale distrubances diving into the trough from the northwest will brings periods of intense rainfall... mainly to Kauai and Oahu today, then Maui on Friday, and to our island late Friday and Saturday as a surface front makes its way down our island chain. It is possible that the frontal band could stall over our island, increasing the risk for flooding.
Models show CAPE near 2,000J/kg through the period, which is high instability for our region. Combined with precipitable water values near 2.25", these conditions are capable of producing intense rainfall rates, flooding, strong gusty winds, frequent lightning, and hail.
The south winds will favor rain from Hilo south through the period. Light winds from Sunday through Tuesday will allow for VOG to spread over much of the island.
