HONOLULU (KHON2) -Trade winds will gradually strengthen Tuesday and Wednesday as drier conditions develop.
Even though a surface trough will linger north of the state, Tropical Storm Iona passing well south of Hawaii will help tighten the local pressure gradient and drive stronger trades.
There is still a bit of uncertainty as to how strong the trades will get, but the latest guidance suggests locally breezy winds will develop late Tuesday and be slightly stronger Wednesday.
Ridging aloft will strengthen during this time, bringing a lower inversion that could contribute to gusty conditions on Wednesday.
Under these stable conditions, only modest windward rainfall is expected, with dry weather favored leeward.
An area of moisture creeps westward to Oahu tonight and Kauai on Monday.
Humid conditions will develop on these islands as dew points climb into the lower 70s, and while rainfall from windward shower activity is not expected to be significant, daytime sea breezes could trigger isolated briefly heavy leeward showers Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, drier conditions will slowly filter in on Big Island then Maui County, even though dew points remaining in the upper 60s.
Minimal windward showers are due over the eastern end of the state, mainly windward, though the Kona slopes of the Big Island may experience scattered afternoon showers.