July is shaping up to be one for the East Hawaii record books.
In the first eight days of the month, Hilo International Airport measured record-high temperatures on four separate days, according to National Weather Service data.
The record temps began on Friday, with a high of 87 degrees, matching the previous record for July 3 set in 1974. The day also saw record highs in Honolulu and Kahului, at 92 degrees and 93 degrees, respectively.
On Independence Day, the mercury in Hilo climbed another degree to 88, breaking the previous July 4 record of 87 degrees.
Then on Sunday, Hilo’s high temperature dropped back to 87, but that was still enough to tie the previous record, set in 1968.
On Tuesday, the temperature at Hilo airport climbed again to 88 degrees, tying the previous record set in 1980.
National Weather Service forecaster Pete McDonald said Thursday that there can be a relatively high degree of error in the measurements, but added that there’s clearly some warm weather hitting Hawaii right now.
“It’s hard to say how significant records like this are, because the instruments (at Hilo International Airport) that provide the temperature readings are designed for the criteria set according to what’s needed for aviation interests,” he said.
Meanwhile, because Hawaii’s temperatures vary so little in general, “even a slight change can give you a record temperature,” he said.
Given all of that, however, “we have been getting some warm temps for sure,” he said. “It’s been warmer than normal. One indication is that it isn’t just Hilo that’s been getting unusually high temps. Honolulu will tie a record one day, and then Lihue will tie a record another day.”
El Niño conditions mean that forecasters expected a warmer summer this year, he added.
“You’ve got warmer water temperatures, so that’s going to influence temperatures over the islands,” he said.
Meanwhile, with Tropical Storm Ela looking to make a close pass by the islands this weekend before moving to the northwest, East Hawaii residents may feel even hotter.
“It’s not easy to get (a forecast) exactly right when you have a tropical cyclone moving by, but given that, it looks like it’s going to be uncomfortably hot, because the tropical system is probably going to kill the winds and bring in moisture,” McDonald said. “It’s going to make things uncomfortable.”
The heat index, or the measurement of what the temperatures will feel like on the skin when taking air moisture into account, is expected to reach 100 degrees in some low-lying areas around the state, and Hilo could see a heat index as high as 95 degrees.
“Hilo could get up into the mid-90s the middle of the day Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “Perhaps around 95.”
The climate is expected to become drier and breezier by Sunday night, McDonald added.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaii
tribune-herald.com.
