Maui Information - Maui Weather Information
Maui is famous world wide, not just for its beaches and tropical waterfalls, but for its ideal weather. Many people believe that Maui is always the same temperature, 79 degrees and sunny. Actually, Maui contains many distinct micro-climates, created by altitude, wind, and land mass.
Temperature
Because Maui lies so close to the edge of the tropical zone, the temperature along the coast is very steady year-round. Traditionally, Hawaiians only distinguished between "kau", summer from May to October and "ho'ooila", winter from November to April. The average daily coastline temperature in the summer is 80 degrees with temperatures averaging 72 degrees in the winter. Nights are usually between 10 and 15 degrees cooler. On Maui the temperature drops three degrees for every 1000-ft of elevation you climb. The summit of Haleakala, which stands at 10,023 ft. is about 30 degrees cooler than the temperature at sea level. Upcountry, the area on the slopes of Haleakala that lies between 1,500 and 4,600 feet in altitude, is usually between 7 to 15 degrees cooler than temperatures along the coast.
Rainfall
Maui is similar to the other Hawaiian Islands when it comes to rain. On any given day, it is raining somewhere on the island. Winter is generally the wetter season and Maui usually receives at least one winter storm in January or February.
The mountains play an important part in the formation of rain clouds and precipitation. On the western side of Maui clouds form at the peaks of the West Maui Mountains. Pu'u Kukui, located at the top of these mountains, receives 400 inches of rain per year, making it one of the wettest spots on earth! The clouds, blocked by these mountains do not reach the western coastline and Lahaina receives only 15 inches of rain per year, creating a hot and arid climate zone. Haleakala, on the east side of the island, rises to over 10,000 feet and its summit also captures the rain clouds, keeping the precipitation falling on the east side of the island. Hana, on the east side, remains humid and a perfect natural hothouse with waterfalls and abundant tropical flowers and fruits. The south side of the island, which can see the rain shadow at the top of Haleakala, rarely receives the rain and remains dry and arid.
Tradewinds
The tradewinds, those winds blowing in from the northeast at about 5-15 miles per hour, help to keep the temperatures on Maui constant and moderate. These winds blow nearly year-round, being felt 83-95% of the time in the summer and 42-60% of the time in the winter. Usually calm in the morning, they pick up as the day warms up and then diminish in the evening. The consistency of these winds were well known to the early maritime traders, who traveled the world’s oceans in the days of wooden sailing ships. They used these winds to cross the great oceans and reach distant lands to trade their goods. The wind takes its name from these traders.
Ocean Temperatures
The temperature of the ocean around Maui fluctuates very little, remaining between 75 degrees F. (23.3C) during the winter months, and rising up to 83 degrees F. (28.3C) or so during the summer months. This last point is really the key factor in why we stay so pleasant here even during the winter. The warm ocean keeps the overlying atmosphere from cooling significantly ensuring the near perfect weather conditions that Maui enjoys.
Maui Weather Websites and Webcams
Here are a few weather websites for those who would like to explore in more detail the lovely phenomenon of Maui weather. They also give daily and weekly weather reports. I am including a webcam site that allows you to watch the changing weather in real time.
http://www.hawaiiweathertoday.com/
http://www.mauimapp.com/weather.htm
Maui Webcams: http://www.mauigateway.com/~rw/video/video.htm
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