Gusty Trade Winds and Scattered Showers Forecast Across Big Island February 13

Gusty trade winds continued to drive showers into the windward slopes of Hawaiʻi Island, keeping lowland coasts relatively warm while higher elevations stayed cool and wet. Big Island Now’s short-term update, issued at 9:15 PM HST on Feb. 12, 2026, said the forecast was on track and noted the broader pattern: “Trade winds will continue through the weekend and into next week, bringing showers to the usual areas, with Sunday seeing the most showers. A trough may move close enough to put us in a wetter pattern from the middle to the end of next week, but confidence is not high at this time.”

Local impacts were concentrated by exposure. Hilo faced the heaviest odds for rain overnight and into Friday, with the forecast calling for persistent showers and cooler mountain readings. Big Island Now listed Hilo conditions as: Tonight: Occasional showers. Lows 57 to 66 near the shore to 48 to 54 at 4000 feet. Northwest winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent. Friday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs around 77 near the shore to around 62 at 4000 feet. North winds up to 10 mph shifting to the east in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent. Friday Night: Occasional showers. Lows 57 to 66 near the shore to 47 to 54 at 4000 feet. Northeast winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

West and leeward districts remained drier but breezy. Kona’s forecast in the prev discussion block showed limited shower chances: Tonight: Partly cloudy. Isolated showers in the evening. Lows 67 to 72 near the shore to 44 to 51 near 5000 feet. Light winds. Chance of rain 20 percent. Friday: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Isolated showers. Highs around 82 near the shore to around 64 near 5000 feet. West winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Friday Night: Mostly cloudy. Isolated showers in the evening. Lows around 69 near the shore to 44 to 50 near 5000 feet. Northeast winds up to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. An alternate Kona snippet listed Friday Night lows around 70 near the shore to 47 to 52 above 4000 feet with east winds up to 10 mph.

Higher upland towns saw cooler, breezier conditions. Waimea was forecast as: Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 58 to 68 near the shore to 51 to 60 near 3000 feet. East winds up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Statewide context reinforced the trade-wind pattern. Kaua‘i News observed early-morning rainfall reports: “a couple tenths of an inch of rain falling at a few windward Big Island locations, and over 2.5 inches falling at Mount Waialeale.” Kaua‘i forecasters also noted model consistency: “The forecast has been updated with the latest National Blend of Models solution, which is very similar to the previously issued forecast.” Hawaii News Now summed the pattern simply: “Trade winds will continue to bring showers to the usual windward areas.”

Numbers matter when people plan travel, outdoor work, or water management. Forecasters across Maui County and Kaua‘i described east to northeast trades at 10 to 25 mph in many zones, and overnight lows ranging from the mid 40s at high elevations to the low 70s on the coast. For technical context, Weatherspark lists humidity comfort thresholds and a wind-speed descriptor scale: “dry 55°F comfortable 60°F humid 65°F muggy 70°F oppressive 75°F miserable” and “0 mph calm 1 mph light air 4 mph light breeze 8 mph gentle breeze 13 mph moderate breeze 18 mph fresh breeze 25 mph strong breeze 31 mph near gale 39 mph gale 47 mph strong gale 55 mph.”

Residents and public agencies should expect more of the same through the weekend, with Sunday quoted as the wettest day in the current run of forecasts. Continue to monitor National Weather Service updates and local bulletin services for any shift if the trough mentioned in Big Island Now moves closer and increases rainfall late next week.