Issued: Feb 22, 2012 2:30 PM HST

Based on data through 2:00 pm Feb 22 2012 HST

Water vapor imagery shows an upper level low near 15°N 154°W, or about 350 miles south southeast of Hilo. This low is moving to the east at 10 mph. Isolated cumulonimbus clouds are located within a 200 mile semicircle to the north of the low. Cloud tops extend up to 42000 ft. Additional towering cumulus clouds are located within 400 miles north and west of the low. Some of these clouds are embedded within an area of deeper layered clouds. The layered clouds are located between 148°W and 152°W. This overall areas is moving east slowly, but cloud tops are moving to the northeast at 40 to 60 mph. Additional cirrus clouds extend north and east of this area. These high clouds extend north to 25°N and east to 141°W, .and are moving to the east and northeast at 30 to 40 mph.

Water vapor imagery also shows an upper level trough near 29°N 168°W, or about 600 miles east of Midway atoll. This trough is moving to the east at 40 mph. A surface front and associated band of layered clouds is located near this trough. The cloud band is up to 400 miles wide, and the leading edge extends from 30°N 160°W to 22°N 170°W to 19°N 180°, or from near 1000 miles east northeast of Midway to 600 miles south southwest of Midway. The overall band is moving to the east at 10 mph. High cloud elements are moving to the northeast at 50 mph at one level, and to the east southeast at 100 mph at a higher level. Additional scattered to broken high clouds are located east of the layered clouds, generally in the area north of 23°N and west of 156°W. These high clouds are moving to the east and southeast at 20 to 30 mph.

Between these two areas of layered clouds, areas of low clouds are embedded in the low-level flow. These clouds are greatest in coverage north of 26°N east of 149°W, where they are composed primarily of stable stratocumulus and closed cell cumulus elements. South and west of this area, clouds decrease in coverage and transition to more showery open cell cumulus elements. Cloud motions are generally to the west at 15 to 20 mph south of 20°N. North of 20°N, cloud motions are to the west and northwest at 20 to 30 mph east of 160°W, and to the northwest and north at 10 to 20 mph west of 160°W.

Across the main Hawaiian islands, broken low clouds cover the eastern half of Kauai, and also leeward coastal sections. Broken low clouds also cover leeward sections of Niihau, and extend 20 miles offshore to the west. Broken to overcast low clouds cover much of Oahu, and are greatest in coverage across the Koolau and Waianae ranges. Broken to overcast low clouds cover eastern Molokai east of a line from kalaupapa to kamalo, and also interior sections from Molokai airport westward. These clouds extend in a narrow band 25 miles offshore to the west of laau point. Broken low clouds cover the interior of Lanai. Broken to overcast low clouds cover the west Maui mountains and also the slopes of Haleakala, with only scattered clouds across the central valley. The clouds across east Maui extend up to the summit of Haleakala, and also extend offshore across the Alenuihaha channel.

On the Big Island, broken low clouds cover the slopes of the Kohala range. Broken low and mid level clouds cover north and south Hilo and Puna districts. These clouds extend over 100 miles offshore to the northeast and east. Broken to overcast low and mid level clouds cover north and south Kona districts, and Kau district from Naalehu eastward. Towering cumulus elements are embedded within these clouds, with tops extending up to 20000 ft. While these clouds extend to near summit level of Mauna Loa, clouds are thinner across Mauna Kea, and the snowpack is visible. Based on our topography overlay, it appears the snow extends down to 11000 ft.

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