Friday is a First Alert Weather Day as Gilma’s remnants bring chance for disruptive weather

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii News Now weather team has marked Friday as a First Alert Weather Day as Gilma approaches the state, bringing more rain with light winds and higher humidity levels.

The impacts won’t be destructive, rather at times disruptive.

Current forecast trends have Gilma, though weakening, holding together as a tropical depression as it skirts west- northwest along the island chain.

At this time, the strongest winds are still expected to remain over the eastern coastal/offshore waters and winds along land areas and leeward coastal waters will actually weaken and take on a more southeasterly component Friday into Saturday.

MORE: Tropical Storm Gilma, remnants of Hector may bring wet weather to the islands

These weaker winds may allow for shower coverage to expand across leeward portions of the state due to increased potential for sea breeze activity and increased moisture being routed around island terrain.

Timing of the heaviest rainfall is looking like it will be Thursday night through Saturday morning. Periods of heavier rain may pick up over the mountains.

Even though widespread flooding is not expected with current forecast rainfall totals in the 1 to 3 inch range, localized flooding could be possible.

Other than the potential for rain, moisture moving in as Gilma passes nearby will raise dew point temperatures by a few degrees, making it feel a bit muggier through the weekend.

If the system is more north, that will mean less rain for us and higher humidity. If it sags more south, closer to the islands, that will likely mean more rain.

Gilma is expected to weaken to a remnant low Thursday night and dissipate near Kauai on Saturday.

Following not too far behind Gilma was Tropical Storm Hector which has now dissipated. What’s left of it is expected on a westward track, and it should be a weak surface trough that could bring a slight increase in showers and more muggy weather sometime Saturday night into Sunday.

Stay tuned to the latest information on the Hawaii News Now Weather app.

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