Maui's Weather

Learn About Maui's Weather

Knowing the current Maui weather conditions is vital to our successful participation in all water sports. Predicting where and when the conditions will be good will help us to get the most from our sessions. Knowing when the weather will be bad is vital for safety, and knowing when to stay out of the ocean. For the current wind conditions and the surf report, do what I do and call the closest surf shop. They can usually give you the actual observed conditions. For safety reasons you should always be aware of: extreme weather, severe weather, and any marine warnings. Check the Maui weather reports before going to the beach, so you will have a good idea what to expect when you get there.

On this page, we have brought together most of the information that is useful to check the weather every day. There are many good forecasting tools, and satellite images of the world’s weather that will ultimately affect our region. Below is a general description of the monthly averages that will give you an overview of seasonal variations so your ocean experience will be a safer and more enjoyable one!

Monthly Weather

One of the coolest months, cold fronts from the Northwest bring showery weather, with this month the wettest of the year. Clear and warm days prevail between these showery periods. Trade-winds blow only 42% of the time, compared with July’s 95%. One of the months to see snow on top of our 10.023 foot Haleakala which sometimes occurs. Large surf impacts the North and West shores. Sea water temperature averages about 75 degrees F. January averages for different locations on Maui: Lahaina 82-64 F. (27.8C-17.8C) 3.49″ precipitation Hana 79-64 F. (26.1C-17.8C) 9.45″ precipitation, Kahului 80-64 F. (26.7C-17.8C) 4.14″ precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 69%.
One of the coolest months, with showery weather episodes mixed with warm, and sunny days. Light winds generally, but some of the strongest winds of the year reported in the winter month of February. Medium to large surf on North and West shores. Snow falls on Haleakala some years. Trade-winds blow on the average 55% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 74 degrees F. February averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 80-63 F. (26.7C-17.2C) 2.35″ of precipitation Hana 79-64 F. (26.1C-17.8C) 6.83″ of precipitation Kahului 80-63 F. (26.7C-17.2C) 2.87″ of precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 73%.
Spring brings increasingly strong Northeast trade-winds, and more showers on the windward sides from Haiku to Hana, and on the upper West side from Napili to Kaanapali. Kihei and Lahaina are generally warm and sunny. Winter storms lose their influence on Maui later in the month. Trade-winds blow on the average 61% of the time. Surf still up frequently on the North and West shores. Sea water temperature averages about 74 degrees F. March averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 83-64 F. (28.3C-17.8C) 1.79″ of precipitation Hana 79-65 F. (26.1C-18.3C) 9.54″ of precipitation, Kahului 81-65 F. (27.2C-18.3C) 2.72″ of precipitation Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 72%.
Spring weather pattern has become well established, very few winter type storms ever occur this month. Trade-winds are usually quite strong on the windward sides, and frequently carry moisture in the form of cloudiness and showers with them. Lots of sunshine in the leeward areas. Mild weather prevails from the second half of this month through October. Trade-winds blow on the average 74% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 75 degrees F. April averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 84-65 F. (28.9C-18.3C) 1.05″ of precipitation Hana 80-67 F. (26.7C-19.4C) 8.95″ of precipitation Kahului 82-66 F. (27.8C-18.9C) 1.84″ of precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 56%.
Summer starts early on Maui, and May is getting quite warm. The trade-winds are blowing most of the time on the windward sides but carry less clouds and showers than in April. Winter storms are completely absent .leeward sides are summer-like. Trade-winds blow on the average 86% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 76 degrees F. (25.6C). May averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 85-67 F. (28.9C-18.3C) 1.05″ of precipitation Hana 80-68 F. (26.7C-19.4C) 8.95″ of precipitation Kahului 84-67 F. (27.8C-18.9C) .62″ of precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 58%.
Summer is here, with warm and sunny days. June is the driest month of the year. Trade-winds blow almost every day. The hurricane season begins this month, but rarely will a tropical system come close to Maui in June. Trade-winds blow on the average 91% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 77 degrees F. June averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 87-68 F. (30.6C-20.0C) .09″ of precipitation Hana 83-69 F. (28.3C-20.6C) 3.85″ of precipitation Kahului 86-69 F. (30.0C-20.6C) .27″ of precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 79%.
Summer fully engaged weather-wise, with warm to very warm temperatures. Fortunately, the trade-winds temper the summer-time heat. These cooling and refreshing winds keep Maui feeling comfortable during the long warm summer months. Very infrequently a tropical storm may move close to the area giving sticky weather and showers. Summer is when Maui sees small-medium size waves rolling onto the South facing shores from Lahaina to Wailea. These waves are generated in the Southern Hemisphere down near New Zealand where winter storms “down under” send waves 1000’s of miles to arrive here as South swell. Tradewinds are blowing on the average 95% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 78 degrees F. July averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 88-69 F. (31.1C-20.6C) .17″ of precipitation Hana 88-70 F. (28.3C-21.1C) 5.60″ of precipitation, Kahului 87-71 F. (30.6C-21.7C) .38″ of precipitation Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 69%.
Warm, sunny to partly cloudy days are the rule for August. Tradewinds are still fanning the island with great regularity. Occasionally a tropical storm or Hurricane will get close enough to Maui to cause our winds to stop and the humidity to rise to uncomfortable levels, though it is unusual. Small-medium size waves continue to be at times a problem in that, the South shores, where these waves impact, are the same beaches that the visitors (who often are not used to waves of any size) are at play and sunbathing. Persons should be careful during these periodic high surf events. Tradewinds are blowing on the average 94% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 79 degrees F. August averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 88-69 F. (31.1C-20.6C) .18″ of precipitation Hana 84-71 F. (28.9C-21.7C) 5.62″ of precipitation Kahului 88-71 F. (31.1C-21.7C) .49″ of precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 73%.
The weather continues to be very warm, the height of summer here in the tropics. Some of the highest temperature readings of the season occur in this month. Tropical Storms and Hurricanes rarely enter Hawaiian waters, but this is the month when they come the closest and are more apt to affect the weather on Maui. Normally they stay far away, but when they get close enough to the island, they make the residents uncomfortable with the muggy atmosphere they produce. Hurricane Iniki entered into the adjacent waters, and impacted the island of Kauai in September of 1992. Tradewinds blow on the average 83% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 80 degrees F. September averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 89-70 F. (31.7C-21.1C) .34″ of precipitation Hana 84-70 F. (28.9C-21.1C) 5.38″ of precipitation Kahului 88-70 F. (31.1C-21.1C) .35″ of precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 62%.
This is the month that temperatures begin moderating from summers high heat a little! Tradewinds also begin to fade from the island weather scene. In some years, Maui begins to see the first winter-like storms that are far out to sea in the North Pacific they sometimes can produce the first large waves of the season. Occasionally one of these early winter storms will send a weak cold front through the islands, which can cause a few showers. This month is still mild and dry. Tradewinds are blowing on the average 71% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 79 degrees F. October averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 88-69 F. (31.7C-20.6C) 1.09″ of precipitation Hana 83-70 F. (28.9C-21.1C) 7.02″ of precipitation, Kahului 87-69 F. (30.6C-20.6C) 1.23″ of precipitation Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 60%.
Generally a transition month between summer and winter, with weather of both seasons common. The first real winter storms to the North and NW send down a cold front or two, with some showery spells, especially after the middle of the month. Winter storms also more regularly send large waves onto the North and West shores. Temperatures begin to dip noticeably (before you start packing your down jackets .please realize that when I say “dip down”, I mean from the high 80’s down to the middle 80’s! November in some years begins the rainy season. Tradewinds are blowing on the average 64% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 77 degrees F. November averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 86-67 F. (30.0C-19.4C) 2.15″ of precipitation Hana 81-68 F. (27.2C-20.0C) 8.67″ of precipitation Kahului 84-68 F. (28.9C-20.0C) 2.59″ of precipitation, Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 67%.
A winter month on Maui, with fairly frequent cold fronts sweeping over the island, bringing showery periods, with sometimes gusty winds. Still, December has its fair share of warm and balmy days as well! Medium to large surf is very common on the North and West shores of the island. One of the wettest months of the year, with some rainy days .although the areas around Kihei and Lahaina on the leeward sides of the island see less moisture than do the wetter windward sections in general. Tradewinds are blowing on the average 57% of the time. Sea water temperature averages about 76 degrees F. December averages for different locations on Maui Lahaina 83-65 F. (28.3C-18.3C) 3.20″ of precipitation Hana 79-66 F. (26.1C-18.9C) 6.05″ of precipitation, Kahului 81-66 F. (27.2C-18.9C) 3.27″ of precipitation Kahului % of possible daytime sunshine: 58%.

Seasonal Weather

In summer the trade wind weather dominates. Trades blow from the NE to ENE direction and provide the comfortable climate and wind-powered activities that we enjoy here in the islands. In summer 9 out of 10 days have trade winds. Trades usually bring fair weather to the central valley and south side of the island. But trades do bring regular showers to the windward sides of all the islands and on Maui especially toward Hana, Haiku, and upcountry. We do have the rainforests and waterfalls to prove it. Showers are especially frequent in overnight and in the mornings. There may be spells of lighter winds but Hawaii has a high number of windy days.
In Summer the waves are smaller on the north shore, and most of the surfing is done on the south side. there are often nice southerly swells coming from the southern oceans, near Tahiti or New Zealand. Summer swell is usually mellow compared to winter. Summer swell is great for longboarding, but there are several shortboarding waves if you know where to look. Summer is often the preferred time to visit Maui for windsurfing and kiteboarding enthusiasts because of the frequency and strength of the trade winds.
Winter Winds are less predictable, and we occasionally get Southerly winds that are called Kona Winds. Kona comes from the Polynesian word for leeward. Kona winds blow from the opposite direction from the prevailing NE tradewinds. Kona winds can get extremely strong on the north shore due to the venturi effect of the wind being funneled through the valley.
Winter is the time for Hawaii’s largest waves. Storms off Japan and Alaska create the energy that creates the swells that travel 1000’s of miles to the Hawaiian Islands. Winter swells will usually hit the north and west facing shores, and may occasionally wrap around to the other sides of the island. Depending on the swell’s direction, some islands may block the swell from reaching other islands, or the wave train may miss the islands altogether. The Hawaiian islands are surrounded by wave buoys that monitor the swell activity and relay the data back to us via satellite. Using buoy data and swell prediction computer models, we can forecast surf conditions with reasonable accuracy several days in advance. Surfers in Hawaii anticipate with joy the pending arrival of a large swell.
Hurricanes are rare but the hurricane season is from June to November. The last major hurricane to hit Hawaii was Iniki, which severely damaged Kauai in September 1992.
Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by many other names, such as a hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone. While tropical cyclones can produce extremely powerful winds and torrential rain, they are also able to produce high waves and damaging storm surge as well as spawning tornadoes. This is the reason coastal regions can receive significant damage from a tropical cyclone, while inland regions are relatively safe from receiving strong winds. Heavy rains, however, can produce significant flooding.
Maui is called the valley island because its twin volcanoes have created a valley that runs NE to SW. This large valley acts as a funnel to concentrate the trade winds making them stronger. Maui’s valley is a natural wind tunnel that makes it the windiest Hawaiian island.
Kona winds are often accompanied by rain and thunderstorms. Hawaii experiences about three Kona storms per year. It is possible to windsurf and kite in these southerly Kona wind conditions but it is definitely not recommended during the intense parts of any storms. Kona storms can produce heavy rains, flooding, waves and storm surge. Localized flooding can cause flash floods, which are extremely dangerous to people and vehicles.

In Kona winds huge plumes of spray to peel of the crest of waves. Some expert windsurfers may venture out at Ho’okipa and Lanes, but there is a real possibility of getting blown out to sea. The strength of the Kona offshore winds may be masked close to shore because of wind shadow of the land and trees at the shoreline. So you should never attempt to surf the north shore during a strong Kona.