Issued: May 20, 2013 7:30 PM HST

Based on data through 7:00 pm May 20 2013 HST

An area of overcast layered clouds covers an area bounded by 33°N 152°W 29°N 147°W 26°N 148°W 20°N 152°W 23°N 153°W 28°N 153°W 30°N 157°W 33°N 152°W, describing an arc 150 to 700 miles northeast of the main Hawaiian islands. These clouds mark the northeast semicircular flank of a low near 27°N 155°W, about 440 miles northeast of the islands. Broken to overcast showery low clouds extend southwest from this cloud arc across the island chain, mainly affecting Oahu, the Big Island and the islands of Maui county.

Low clouds affecting the main Hawaiian islands are loosely organized into a series of northeast to southwest oriented bands, with the thickest band extending across Maui county. Radar shows scattered to numerous moderate to briefly heavy showers within this band, which also separates northerly winds across Kauai and Oahu from southerly winds across and around the Big Island.

Kauai is completely covered by broken to overcast low clouds, while Oahu appears to be similarly covered. A patch of broken high clouds moving rapidly southeastward is temporarily blocking a good view of low clouds across Maui county, but earlier imagery showed Molokai and Lanai completely covered by low clouds. Only south-facing Haleakala slopes on Maui have clear skies at this hour, with the remainder of that island beneath broken to overcast low clouds. Low clouds seem limited to Hamakua and Hilo districts on the Big Island, while Kona, Kau and Kohala appear to have scattered low clouds to clear skies. Satellite loop shows low clouds are moving no faster than 10 mph on either side of the cloud band across Maui county.

POWELL