Surrounded

Well, it now looks like the storm system to the north is pulling in thunderstorms from the south. As you may know, low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate counterclockwise (same as tropical cyclones, such as hurricanes). The wettest section of this current system has been just to the north of the islands, leaving us to scratch our heads, look at the blue sky and wonder why the heck there's a flash flood watch. But compare this map with the one I posted yesterday: [caption id="attachment_92" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="IR Satellite Thursday 10:30 am HST"][/caption] There are still some fierce thunderstorms just to the north of the Big Island and Maui County, but the system is now pulling thunderstorms from the active area south of the islands. The SW to NE oriented line of clouds over those areas is moving to the northeast. And the system, as a whole, is drifting westward. So, if everything holds together, the mess you see to the south will move over us as well. [caption id="attachment_93" align="aligncenter" width="444" caption="Hawaii Radar Thursday 10:55 am HST"][/caption] Checking radar, the Big Island looks like it's going to be hit on both sides, with the Kona side's rain coming from the south/southwest, and more thunderstorms for the Puna and Ka?u Districts approaching from the southeast. Some of those showers south of Maui County could hit the Valley Isle as well. So while some of us still have what could be considered beautiful weather, the storm that has been too close for comfort may finally show its presence today. (By the way, you can click on either map for the latest satellite or radar loop.)

Comments

[Margaret Gibson]

Thunder started here in Haiku at 3:45PM and hasn't stopped! But NO rain or wind, just a very scared dog. I don't mind this but, being a disabled senior, try not to fall over this 75# black dog.

[Don Hayman]

I just wanted to know what causes bog? I hope I'm spelling it right. I am doing a paper for school. Thanks.

[malu]

Interested in knowing what the vog situation was like this year...all that smoke from the big island....was it as bad as it was in summer of 2008? What's the volcano up to now?