Puna Weather
Sunday 30th August 2026
Today through Monday a bit humid with light to moderate easterly trade winds and scattered showers.
Tuesday through ??? hot and humid with the risk of heavy rain.
Tropical Storm Lowell is still under easterly shear with the main convective activity located to the west of the low level center. Most models show this shear decreasing significantly later tonight or early Monday allowing the storm to strengthen.
Hurricane Karina had its shear relax about 18 hours ago and has taken the opportunity to become vertically aligned and increase in strength into a powerful hurricane.
The GFS is showing the ridge to the north of both of these storms having more of an influence on them in the most recent runs, as such the GFS brings both storms closer to our shores a couple of days early. We could see moisture from Lowell bring hot and humid conditions along with the risk of heavy rains beginning as early as Tuesday.
The latest storm path for Karina according to most models is now shifted significantly to the south, keeping the storm over warmer waters and upping the risk to our island. The GFS has Karina near our shores in around 8 days. Along the way Karina has to work its way through a vast region of mid-level dry and stable air. If Karina can maintain a tight core, it could last longer, if not it will dissipate on approach.
Models have been making big swings day to day and both storms still pose a significant threat to our island. Please keep up on the latest forecasts so you don't get caught unawares.
