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Weather Education

Kona low, What is it and its Impacts to Hawai'i? (Credit: Meteorologist Jessica Olsen)

2/18/2019

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Picture
Image Courtesy: Mauna Kea Weather Center in cooperation with the University of Hawaii Department of Meteorology
DISCUSSION: Winter is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, and while much of the United States mainland is experiencing cold temperatures, or winter storms which encompass snow, there are warm locations within the U.S. that are experiencing winter phenomena not known to its mainland counterparts. Hawaii, the 50th state, experiences 11 of the world’s 13 climate zones, often experiencing various weather on several parts of one island even within several miles. Of notable recent winter conditions in Hawaii, was the widespread impacts of a Kona low.
 
As recent as the week of February 9th, 2019, did the state of Hawaii feel the effects of a Kona low in the area. Typically, island weather is dominated by the Northeast trade wind flow, at times bringing wet conditions to windward and mauka (mountain) locations of the island chain. A Kona low, Kona in the Hawaiian language having various interpretations, in this context could be determined as “leeward or dry side of the island,” is primarily a subtropical cyclone (counterclockwise inward flow) with a southerly wind component in this case. Often Kona lows bring unprecedented winds, large surf, heavy rains, and other hazardous conditions to the islands. During this most recent storm, surf brought nearly 30-40-foot faces, winds in excess of 45 mph and of note a 191-mph wind reading at the top of Mauna Kea, in addition to snow seen on Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa (on Hawai’i) and Haleakala on Maui, an astounding happenstance on Maui as elevations of snowfall around 6000 feet.
 
Kona lows while they often disturb the trade wind flow, bringing cooler temperatures, are not uncommon outside of summer, often seen between fall and spring in the Pacific. There is a potential for the low to be subtropical or tropical, often a colder core of air than a tropical storm, mass disorganizations and in general characteristics of several types of systems. While winter is not quite over yet for the islands, chances so see such storms may decrease as temperatures begin to warm waters and the atmosphere in the Pacific region, as we move into spring and summer seasons.

For more educational topics visit the Global Weather and Climate Center!
 
© 2019 Meteorologist Jessica Olsen

​
Video: Honolulu, Hawai'i, Courtesy: Meteorologist Jessica Olsen

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  • Home
  • About
    • GWCC Is
    • Where in the World is GWCC?
    • Contact Us
  • Global Regions
    • Africa
    • Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea
    • Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean
    • Central and South America
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Indian Ocean and Asia
    • Polar Regions
    • South Pacific Ocean and Australia
    • Western Pacific Ocean
  • Weather
    • Applied Meteorology >
      • Air Quality
      • Aviation
      • Droughts
      • Fire Weather
      • Flooding
      • Geosciences
      • Global Environmental Topics
      • Weather Observations
    • Weather Education
    • Weather History
    • Weather Research
    • Weather Safety and Preparedness
    • Severe Weather
    • Social Sciences
    • Space Weather
    • Tropical Cyclones
    • Weather and Health
    • Winter Weather
  • Climate
  • GWCC Global Imagery Archive
  • GWCC Window to the World
    • GOES-16 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • GOES-16 ABI Channel Description and Examples
    • GOES-16 ABI Satellite Products
    • GOES-17 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • Himawari-8 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • Meteosat-11 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
  • Kids Corner
    • Kindergarten to 5th Grade
    • 6th to 12th grade
    • Fun Facts & Weather Trivia
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