The Maui News

Strong trade winds due to a high pressure system north of the islands has led to the posting of a wind advisory for parts of Maui and Lanai and a high-surf advisory for east-facing shores of Molokai and Maui.

The strong trades may be enough to blow some brief passing showers over leeward areas at times while dropping rain over windward and mauka areas this week, the National Weather Service said.

The wind advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday and includes Lanai City and Manele, the central valley of Maui and Kahoolawe.

Northeast winds of 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph are expected. The high winds will make driving difficult, the weather service warned.

The gusty trades upstream of the islands also are producing large and rough surf along east-facing shores of Maui and Molokai, the weather service said.

The high-surf advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Friday with surf of 6 to 8 feet today, building to 7 to 10 feet Tuesday.

There could be strong shore break and longshore and rip currents in the ocean.

Gale warnings are up for Maalaea Bay until 6 p.m. Tuesday and small craft advisories for Maui County windward waters and the Kaiwi Channel between Molokai and Oahu until 2 p.m. Thursday.

The forecast for the central valley of Maui today is mostly sunny with isolated showers and a 20 percent chance of rain. Northeast winds are expected to blow 25 to 30 mph. High temperatures should be between 80 and 85 degrees with overnight lows of 63 to 68 degrees.

A wetter trade wind pattern is setting up for the second half of the week as an upper low pressure system moves over the area from the east, the weather service said.