First Alert Forecast: Highs winds, elevated fire risk continue into Saturday

The First Alert Weather Day continues into Saturday as dry, blustery trade winds will continue for the first half of the weekend. And a Red Flag Warning has been extended into Saturday until 4 PM.
The rain we are hoping for will not arrive until Saturday night as a slug of moisture will push towards the islands into Sunday. Red Flag Warning thresholds will be met through Saturday as the current drier air and lower relative humidity continues to impact the state.
Surface observations have shown sustained wind speeds near 30 mph with gusts up to near 50 mph at times over the windiest locations of Maui County and the Big Island. These strongest winds are occurring over leeward locations, through valleys and in channels where strong downsloping and funneling effects occur. A Wind Advisory remains in effect for Maui County and the Big Island through early Sunday morning.
We are keeping a close eye on a weak front that will lead to sending a slug of moisture to the state. Right now, the timing is a bit delayed allowing for this drier air to continue into most of Saturday that is associated for the Red Flag Warning continuing.
On top of this, we are keeping a close eye on an upper trough will move over the eastern end of the state, coinciding with the low-level moisture band. This will work to increase instability a bit, and isolated thunderstorms have been added to the forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening for windward portions of Hawaii Island with this afternoon’s forecast updates.
Surf will be quite messy, as well, with the blustery trade winds through Sunday. Be safe in the elements.
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