HONOLULU (KHON2)- Strong 596dm mid-level ridge remains centered over the Hawai'ian Islands this afternoon.
At the surface, the corresponding zonally oriented ridge axis is established roughly along the 26th parallel, or just north of Kauai.
Consequently, the trade wind belt has been shunted largely south of the area, the islands remaining within lighter easterlies along its northern periphery during the last couple of days.
That has begun to change today as the ridge axis nudges slightly northward allowing stronger trades to rebound northward into the forecast area.
Locally breezy trades are forecast to develop by this afternoon and continue through mid- week with little change expected otherwise.
This morning's observed inversion is anchored at 6kft, as it was yesterday, and may rise just slightly in response to subtle height falls during mid-week.
This will be insufficient to cause any noteworthy change in sensible weather with limited showers remaining focused over windward and mauka zones through the period.
Strong consensus exists among the extended guidance that more organized mid-level height falls will commence during the latter half of the week causing trades to weaken toward the moderate category once again.