Sizzling temperatures during record-setting summer

The soaring temperatures and humidity in Hawai‘i have produced about 50 high temperature records statewide this summer, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The warm ocean temperatures around the state are contributing to the problem. “What we’re seeing is temperatures of the ocean up 3 to 5 degrees above what we typically see this time of year, so our air temperatures are consequently raised as well several degrees,” explained meteorologist Chris Brenchley of the NWS.

Another factor is the light trade winds. The state climatologist, Atmospheric Sciences (ATMO) professor Pao-Shin Chu, has been tracking the average number of trade wind days annually since 1981. “The northeast trade wind dropped from about 200 days to just a little bit over 150 days, so we do see almost 25% less, fewer trade wind days,” he  said.

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