First Alert Weather Day extended into Saturday due to elevated fire danger and strong winds

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii News Now First Alert Weather team has declared that the FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY is now extended into Saturday.
The National Weather Service has extended a RED FLAG WARNING for the leeward areas of all islands until 4 p.m. Saturday as the combination of dry fuels, low relative humidity, and strong trade winds could lead to critical fire weather conditions during the day.
The rain we are hoping for, will not arrive until Saturday night as a slug of moisture will push towards the islands into Sunday.
Red flag warning thresholds will be met through Saturday as the current drier air and lower relative humidity continues to impact the state.
We are keeping a close eye on a weak front that will lead to sending a slug of moisture to the state. Right now, the timing is a bit delayed allowing for this drier air to continue into most of Saturday that is associated for the Red Flag Warning continuing.
We will see some passing trade wind showers but many leeward spots will be in the rainshadow. With the windy trade wind flow continuing, expect clouds and showers to be focused over windward and mountain areas. On top of this, we are keeping a close eye on an upper trough will move over the eastern end of the state, coinciding with the low-level moisture band. This will work to increase instability a bit, and isolated thunderstorms have been added to the forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening for windward portions of Hawaii Island with this afternoon’s forecast updates.
A WIND ADVISORY has also been extended until 6 a.m. Sunday for portions of Hawaii Island, Maui, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. The NWS is forecasting easterly winds between 20 and 30 miles per hour and gusts near 50 miles per hour.
Surface observations have shown sustained wind speeds near 30 mph with gusts up to near 50 mph at times over the windiest locations of Maui County and the Big Island. These strongest winds are occurring over leeward locations, through valleys and in channels where strong downsloping and funneling effects occur. A Wind Advisory remains in effect for Maui County and the Big Island through early Sunday morning.
In short, with the current condition and a heightened threat for fires, a first alert weather day continues into Saturday but improvements will come our way with the rain on Saturday night into Sunday.
Surf will be quite messy, as well, with the blustery trade winds through Sunday.
A HIGH SURF ADVISORY is also in effect for east-facing shores due to the large wind swell approaching. Surf will continue to build on east-facing shores and this advisory will last until 6 a.m. Sunday.
Get weather updates every ten minutes and your 7-Day First Alert Forecast on HNN Sunrise, weekdays with Guy Hagi and weekends with Billy V. Meteorologist Drew Davis has your forecasts on This is Now, First at Four and Hawaii News Now at 6:30. And join Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins at 5, 5:30, 6, 9 and 10 and Ben Gutierrez on weekends.
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