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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 7:08 a.m., Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Rain hurting telescope viewing atop Mauna Kea

Advertiser Staff

The recent spate of rainy weather has made for miserable viewing conditions at the telescopes atop Mauna Kea, according to the Mauna Kea Weather Center.

And things probably won't get much better through the rest of the week, the latest Weather Center forecast said.

"The atmosphere near the Big Island will remain quite unstable and saturated throughout most of the forecast period," the Weather Center said in a forecast issued at 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. "Consequently, there is a high risk for fog, ice and flurries over the next 5 nights. Deep convection and periods of heavy snow are also possible particularly through midnight tomorrow and again around Friday. Extensive afternoon clouds are expected throughout the forecast period.

"Thick overcast clouds will continue to blanket skies through at least tomorrow evening, then may begin to briefly shift eastward on Thursday. Unfortunately, mid-level clouds will continue to linger in the area and high clouds will continue to redevelop to the east and occasionally over the summit again late Thursday night and into the weekend.

"Strong shear/turbulence in the free atmosphere combined with instability and the high risk for moisture and clouds will result in bad/horrible seeing and probably inoperable conditions throughout most of the forecast period," according to the forecast.