Now whats going on with the wind in Maui?

daKine · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 39

It has been blowing good enough to make me want to go.
Now it just shut down for a week it looks like but not because of a hurricane.
Can anybody explain this map?
Highs all over the place....

rswabsin · Joined: 14 May 2000 Posts: 444 Location: New Jersey

Well as you get into late August, you are pretty much past the peak trade winds period so you have to start expecting lighter conditions in general. I just looked at both the Kanaha and Kihei wind meters for last week. There was sailable wind most days last week but closer to 20 knots - Kihei looked like it was cranking on several of those days. But again, if you look through the wind archive data over the past few years, you'll see a subtle downward trend in the trade winds as you approach September.

hburks · Joined: 27 Jun 2000 Posts: 7

Glenn James site has been my goto source for Maui weather - check out his sail weather narrative here: http://www.hawaiiweathertoday.com/glenns-daily-weather-narrative/

Went in late July/early August and had one of the best 10 day stretches in years. Guys at the shop confirmed that trades-wise this season has been more typical than recent years. Storm leftovers nearby can always shut down the trades temporarily, happened a lot previous season.

scottwerden · Joined: 11 Jul 1999 Posts: 302

What's to explain? Weather is dynamic. So is the climate. Things change on short time scales (the weather) and on longer time scales (the climate). You can find explanations and blame it on this or that but it is what it is.

airwave · Joined: 29 Jun 2000 Posts: 386

I blame it on iWindsurf.
My observations are:
When iWindsurf forecast that it will be windy. It usually is. At least 50% of the time. And when they report that it will not be windy it usually is not windy. At least 50% of the time.
So, if they would just report that it will be windy all of the time. It should be windy at least 50% of the time.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

That post is close to perfection, but I hear tell that Mike quotes "48%", not 50.
Still, 48% is a whole lot better than nothing.

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui

Yes, good post, Airwave. My take on it - 90% of windsurfing is half-mental. (Apologies to Yogi)

Steve

jse · Joined: 17 Apr 1995 Posts: 1460 Location: Maui

I've had some good days when it shows 20. I'm usually on a 4.8 or 5.2; upwind at Camp 1 is better wind it seems. Plus you're out of the fur-ball. Don't usually sail Kihei. Lots of reasons other than windsurfing to come to Maui. You just have to make the best of it.

Steve

quigley · Joined: 23 Mar 2010 Posts: 58

Sailed a 4.7 at Camp One for 2 hours yesterday, on a " no wind " in the forecast day ! That makes 12 of the last 13 days small stuff good wind days. Nothing wrong with Maui winds .... Check the water not the forecast when on Maui.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Good stuff!
I used to go to Oahu for months at a time, mostly getting at least 4 days a week of 5.5 wind even during the Thanksgiving holidays, but I never go over there in Sept./Oct.
Everyone said there's no wind on Oahu. They seem to be forgetting about DH, Backyards, Moks, and when they're not blowing, BrighamYoungBeach and the true N shore around Kahuku.
Yes, Kailua Beach itself might blow 5.5 winds twice a week, talking mid day, because it can blow early mornings and late evenings, just like Sherman Island.