HILO — A cold front moving across the state will bring cooler overnight weather to the Big Island this weekend, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service in Honolulu.
NWS Meteorologist Matthew Foster said the front was expected to reach the Big Island overnight Friday and into this morning.
It’s a “fairly weak front,” he said, but added there’s a cold, dry air mass following behind.
People will “probably notice a drying and cooling trend through the day (Saturday),” he said.
He predicts nighttime temperatures in the low 60s for Hilo this weekend — 64 degrees Saturday night, 62 Sunday night and a low of 61 Monday night. High 60s are the expected low around Kona.
But higher elevations could see even cooler low temps.
“For any of the low-lying coastal areas, no. (They will) see 60 at the coldest,” Foster said. “Go up to Volcano and places like that, it’ll probably be in the low 50s, high 40s.”
The windward side of the Big Island also can expect a few brief rain showers, he said. And with winds out of the north, Foster said Hilo and Kailua-Kona can expect stronger-than-usual winds picking up today.
According to Foster, there also might be “potentially strong winds” on the summits of Maunakea and Mauna Loa through today — “stronger than usual, maybe 30-40 miles per hour.”
The NWS on Friday afternoon issued a wind advisory for the Big Island summits effective through noon today.
According to an alert from county Civil Defense, a wind advisory means that winds of at least 45 mph or gusts of at least 55 mph are expected.
Those planning a trip to Maunakea or Mauna Loa during this time should exercise caution.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com
