El Nino

Drought has caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage in Hawaii in the past 20 years. A particularly severe event from 2007-2014 was especially damaging to ranching in the state.

Weather officials say Hawai‘i will see normal to above normal activity this hurricane season, predicting between four and seven tropical cyclones. 

The 2016 outlook comes on the heels of last season’s record-setting El Niño year. That’s when 15 named storms entered the Central Pacific, the highest in recorded history. 

Cooling classrooms in public schools is a topic under discussion at Hawai‘i’s legislature this session. It’s also a timely issue across parts of Southeast Asia this week—as temperatures are soaring. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Malaysia’s government shut down more than 250 schools on Monday…because it was just too hot.  Temperatures climbed to nearly 100-degrees farenheit….and authorities cancelled classes for some 100,000 students.

The National Weather Service says drought conditions on Hawai‘i Island and Maui are likely to continue during the summer, and may spread elsewhere across the islands. Forecasters blame a strong El Nino—which is likely to have a different impact in China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Water levels are already high along parts of Asia’s longest river…and government officials are warning of spring floods that could be “catastrophic.” 

Today marks the official end to what’s been a busy hurricane season in Hawai‘i. It’s been a record-breaking year for the islands, with a total of 15 tropical cyclones formed in the Central Pacific. HPR’s Molly Solomon has more.

It's been a rainy summer for Maui.  Nine tropical storm systems have approached the islands so far this season, often bringing heavy downpours.  The rain has helped ease some of the drought conditions in southeast Maui, but for ranchers, it also brings a new set of problems.  Eileen Chao has more from The Maui News.

  Today on Bytemarks Cafe, we’ll talk with the team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute to find out about their latest expedition. What do their findings from the central equatorial Pacific tell us about El Niño and its effect on the weather in Hawaii? 5 PM on HPR-2.

The official start of the hurricane season for the Central Pacific is two weeks from today. Forecasters expect the El Nino effect to bring another active storm season to Hawai‘i. But elsewhere in the Pacific, there are other concerns. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

  Late spring has brought pounding rains to several areas of the state.  This week, both Kaua'i and Oahu have had flash flooding.  And on parts of the Big Island, the rain patterns have been a bit different from usual.  HPR's Sherry Bracken has the story from Kona.