Hawaiian Islands Satellite Interpretation Message

Hawaiian Islands Satellite Interpretation Message
Sat, 25 Dec 2010 18:30:00 -0600

Based on data through 0000 UTC December 26 2010.

The islands that Sat under mostly clear skies early this morning are now covered with broken to overcast low clouds. The only exceptions where skies are still mostly clear are the central valley of Maui, over and upslope of Hilo, and the southern tip of the Big Island.

Additional clouds with broken coverage and isolated showers are south of Kauai Oahu and Molokai and are moving to the north at 15 to 20 mph. Maui and Lanai have fewer clouds moving up from the south because they are located downwind of the cloud-blocking Big Island.

Skies north of Kauai Oahu and Molokai are clear or have isolated clouds. Skies north of Maui and the Big Island, on the other hand, have broken to overcast clouds. Low cloud tops over and near the islands range from 6 to 10 thousand feet.

Scattered to broken high clouds are moving over Kauai from the northwest. Scattered high clouds are also moving to the north over the Big Island. The high clouds over and southeast of the Big Island are south of a jetstream running from 14°N 155°W to 19°N 156°W across the Big Island to 21°N 150°W then off to the east-southeast. Most of the cirrus clouds are thin rather than opaque.

Water vapor imagery, which displays moisture above 24 thousand feet, continues to track an upper level low centered about 175 miles south of the big island's South Point. The low is moving to the north-northeast at 20 mph over the last 6 hours. Scattered thunderstorms are located east and southeast of the low center in an area from 08°N to 16°N between 140°W and 155°W.

Broken to overcast clouds with isolated embedded thunderstorms are located north and west of the islands. Most of the clouds are within 120 miles of a cold front from 30°N 160°W to 22°N 170°W and 20°N 180°W. The clouds are moving to the northeast at about 20 mph while the area is translating slowly to the southeast toward the islands. Maximum thunderstorm tops are estimated to be near 45 thousand feet.

A second cold front is located far to the northwest along a line through 30°N 174°W to 26°N 180°W then off to the southwest. Thunderstorms within 120 miles of the front have increased in number and intensity over the last 6 hours. Thunderstorm tops are near 30 thousand feet. The cold front is moving to the southeast at 10 to 15 mph.

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CRAIG

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