Weather service dashes hopes for much-needed rain
By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor
Anyone looking to the skies for relief from Hawai'i's long spell of dry weather shouldn't get their hopes up for a wet winter.
The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center said dry conditions are likely to continue throughout October, especially in Leeward areas, and that there is a slightly higher probability of below-normal rainfall through January.
Only Kaua'i, which has experienced near- or above-normal rainfall this year, is expected to be spared.
Parts of Maui and the Big Island are under voluntary water conservation restrictions, and O'ahu residents were asked in August to limit watering their yards to three days a week after water use on that island hit high levels.
The ongoing dry conditions prompted Maui officials this week to remind residents to practice water conservation in earnest.
Reservoir levels in Upcountry Maui have been dropping, and demand is up, according to Department of Water Supply spokeswoman Jacky Takakura. The region has been under voluntary conservation measures since December.
Water use also is slightly up in Central and South Maui, where customers were asked in July to begin voluntary conservation after pumping of the 'Iao Aquifer exceeded acceptable levels, triggering a state takeover of the resource.
The National Weather Service reported that through the end of August, total rainfall for the year at Honolulu Airport was not quite 6 inches, or about 57 percent of normal. Nine inches of rain fell at Kahului Airport during the same period, or 75 percent of the normal level.
At Hilo Airport, 51 inches were measured through August, about 63 percent of normal. The Big Island's Ka'u and Kona districts fared much worse, with some areas collecting less than a third of normal rainfall totals.
Rainfall at Lihu'e Airport — 21.5 inches from January through August — was 93 percent of normal.
Dark clouds could be looming over the weather picture in 2004, and that's a good thing. The Climate Prediction Center reported there are indications Hawai'i could experience near-normal rainfall over the first half of the year, and a slightly enhanced probability of above-normal rainfall next summer.
Contact Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.
