The climate and weather patterns in Hawaii can be a surprise to visitors. Next to plenty of sunshine (of course!) there can also be a lot of rain, especially during hurricane season!
Typical examples of climate patterns here on the Big Island are the fact that Hawaii has a hurricane season. The islands also have a wet and a dry side, and some months are far rainier than others.
THE INFLUENCE OF HAWAIʻI’S LOCATION ON ITS WEATHER
Hawaii is the only state within the tropics and the only state to be completely surrounded by the ocean. Almost half of the land surface of the Hawaiian islands is within 5 miles from the coast! These facts have a large influence on Hawaiian climate.
Because of its proximity to the equator temperatures are mild and the length of the day is pretty constant throughout the year. The dominant wind directions are winds from the east and the northeast (the trade winds, explained here). Finally, because the proximity to the ocean and the many mountains (volcanoes) on the islands, you can expect significant differences in rainfall within short distances and infrequent severe storms.
THE TWO HAWAIIAN SEASONS: WINTER (RAINY SEASON) AND SUMMER (DRY SEASON)
We call the two seasons here summer and winter and skip spring and autumn. Summer is also known as the “dry season”, and winter as the “rainy season”. The main difference between these seasons is the amount of rainfall, with more rain falling during the winter months.
SUMMER AND WINTER TEMPERATURE
Summer falls between May and October. During summer, daytime maximum temperatures at sea level generally range from between 85–90 °F (29–32 °C). Hawaiian winter falls between October and April, with maximum daytime temperatures between a balmy 79–83 °F (26–28 °C). At low elevation it is very rare for the temperature to rise above 90 °F (32 °C) or to drop below 65 °F (18 °C).
This stable and pleasant weather is driven by the warm ocean temperature. The surface waters around Hawaii range between 77 °F (25 °C) and 83 °F (28 °C), all year round, which makes sure the air never cools down that much.
RAINFALL DURING THE HAWAIIAN WINTER AND SUMMER
The wettest months on the Big Island are between November and March, but winter rains rarely disrupt vacation plans. Weather here is very localized, which means that you can find a sunny spot nearby if it is raining at your current location.
So, where are the wettest and the driest spots on the Big Island? The windward/east side of the island (Hilo) receives by far the most rain. As you can see on the map below, Hilo gets between 10 and 40 times as much rain as the driest parts of the Big Island. These dry parts are the resorts at Waikoloa, between Waimea and Kona, the summits and western slopes of the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes, and the most southern tip of the Big Island.
HURRICANE SEASON IN HAWAIʻI
A hurricane is an extremely powerful storm. Any storm with winds of force 12 and above on the Beaufort scale (wind speeds equal to or exceeding 64 knots or 74 mph) is called a hurricane. Depending on your geographical locations hurricanes are also know as a typhoon or a cyclone.
Hurricane season in Hawaii falls between June and November, with almost all activity occurring from July through September. Luckily, the Hawaiian islands themselves rarely experience significant effects from these tropical monsters that are more serious than lots of rain and large surf.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT HAWAIʻI?
Basically, any time is a good time to visit Hawaii. The best time depends on your personal preferences and circumstances, and there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. Below we list a few considerations that may be important for you. READ MORE HERE
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