Last entry for 2004

It's still looking like we're gonna get dumped on, weatherwise, as 2004 draws to a close, but probably not as bad as originally forecast:

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
400 AM HST FRI DEC 31 2004

.SYNOPSIS...
A LOW PRESSURE CENTER ABOUT 700 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF KAUAI 
CONTINUES TO MOVE SOUTH SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 13 MPH. UNSETTLED 
WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD FROM KAUAI TODAY WITH POSSIBLE STRONG 
WINDS THROUGH SUNDAY TO THE BIG ISLAND. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL 
REMAIN FAR NORTH OF THE ISLANDS IS EXPECTED TO BRING LIGHT TO 
MODERATE NORTHWEST WINDS THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. A 
RIDGE WILL THEN EXPECTED TO REBUILD NORTH OF THE ISLANDS...BRINGING 
LIGHT TRADE WINDS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
THE BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT AFFECTED KAUAI LAST NIGHT HAS 
WEAKENED SOMEWHAT OVERNIGHT...AND IT HAS REMAINED NEARLY STATIONARY 
OVER KAUAI CHANNEL INSTEAD OF PUSHING TO OAHU. THE LOW PRESSURE 
SYSTEM THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WEATHER IS NOW ABOUT 700 MILES 
SOUTHWEST OF KAUAI THIS MORNING AND IS STILL MOVING SOUTH SOUTHEAST 
AT ABOUT 13 MPH. THUS MUCH OF THE UNSETTLED WEATHER IS AFFECTING 
THE AREA WEST OF OAHU AT TIME. DO BELIEVE THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS 
WAITING FOR A PUSH FROM THE NORTHWEST...AS THE FORECAST CHARTS 
INDICATED A FRONT WILL MOVE IN FROM THE NORTHWEST AND DO THE JOB. 
THE FORECAST MODEL ALSO SHOWS THE LOW WILL WEAKEN IN THE PROCESS 
AND WHATEVER LEFT OF THIS SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE STATE WITH 
THE FRONT. THE FRONT IS NOW EXPECTED TO REACH KAUAI TONIGHT AND 
OAHU LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY NEW YEAR DAY. IT WILL CONTINUE DOWN THE 
REST OF THE ISLAND CHAIN AND WEAKENS THROUGH SUNDAY. FORECAST CHARTS 
ALSO CONTINUE TO SHOW SURFACE WINDS SHOULD PICK UP A BIT AHEAD OF 
THIS FRONT. THUS HAVE CONTINUED THE HIGH WIND WATCH AS WELL AS THE 
FLOOD WATCH FOR THE EASTERN ISLANDS THROUGH NEW YEAR DAY.

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO LINGER FAR NORTH OF THE 
ISLANDS AND AS WELL AS A HIGH FURTHER NORTHWEST. THIS WILL KEEP 
LIGHT TO MODERATE NORTHWEST WINDS OVER THE ISLANDS THROUGH THE 
EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. FORECAST CHARTS INDICATE THE AIR MASS WILL 
BECOME MORE STABLE THUS WE SHOULD SEE MUCH LESS SHOWERS AND CLOUDS 
THEN. A RIDGE IS NOW EXPECTED TO REBUILD NORTH OF THE ISLANDS BY THE 
LATER PART OF NEXT WEEK...WITH LIGHT TRADE WINDS RETURNING THEN.

I'm also working 5 day shifts on the watchfloor (no, not all in a row!) before I go to Further Confusion later in January, but will then be going to a Mon-Fri admin shift after I get back.  (I'm glad I planned to take 1 day of leave either side of my trip...)

I'll be spending the rest of the morning sleeping since I just got off a mid-shift and will be busy the rest of the afternoon and evening getting ready to celebrate New Year's at my brother's... so I'll just wish everyone a Hauoli Makahiki Hou and Happy 2005 now!