kona storm

Kona is a Hawaiian language term (related to similar words in other Polynesian languages) for the western (to southwestern) side of an island.[http://www.wehewehe.org/gsdl2.5/cgi-bin/hdict?e=q-0hdict--00-0-0--010---4----den--0-000lpm--1haw-Zz-1---Zz-1-home-kona--00031-0000escapewin-00&a=q&d=D8862 lookup of "Kona"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121228110826/http://www.wehewehe.org/gsdl2.5/cgi-bin/hdict?e=q-0hdict--00-0-0--010---4----den--0-000lpm--1haw-Zz-1---Zz-1-home-kona--00031-0000escapewin-00&a=q&d=D8862 |date=2012-12-28 }} on Hawaiian Dictionary

The Kona District for example on the Big Island of Hawai{{okina}}i still uses this name.

Although normally dry and leeward,

the traditional easterly (to northeasterly) tradewinds slacken and reverse during one of these cyclones.

Once termed as subtropical cyclones, a change in the definition of the term during the early 1970s makes categorization of the systems not straightforward. Kona lows are typically cold core, making them extratropical cyclones.Pennsylvania State University. [https://courseware.e-education.psu.edu/public/meteo/subtropical_cyclones.html Subtropical cyclones.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701233137/https://courseware.e-education.psu.edu/public/meteo/subtropical_cyclones.html |date=2010-07-01 }} Retrieved on 2009-05-22. However, they generally share the subtropical cyclone characteristic of losing their associated weather fronts with time, since the cyclones tend to retrograde slowly.

Otkin and Martin identified three types of kona storms: cold-frontal cyclogenesis cyclones (CFCs), trade wind easterlies, and cold-frontal cyclogenesis/trade wind easterlies cyclones. Of the three, CFC cyclones are the most common.Otkin, J. A., and J. E. Martin. (2004). A synoptic-climatology of the subtropical Kona storm. Mon. Wea. Rev., 132, 1502-1517. [http://marrella.aos.wisc.edu/OtkinMartinA.pdf Download PDF]

Rainfall in a Kona storm is more pronounced than a cold front storm, and most intense from south to east of the storm and in front of the storm's center. Steady rains may last from several hours to days, with longer lasting storms typically interrupted by intervals of lighter rain and partial clearing. Intense showers may appear on more moderate but steady rain.[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/HAWAII.htm Climate of Hawaii] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314190922/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/HAWAII.htm |date=2008-03-14 }} on Western Regional Center web site

While some winters occur without a single Kona storm, other winters see a high of four or five.

Hawaii typically experiences two to three annuallyJan TenBruggencate. [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Mar/03/ln/FP603030355.html Rain-making Kona systems behind persistent downpours] Honolulu Advertiser, retrieved on 2009-05-22 between October and April.Steven Businger and Thomas Birchard, Jr. [http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/PDF/BowEchoPPR.pdf A Bow Echo and Severe Weather Associated with a Kona Low in Hawaii.] Retrieved on 2007-05-22. The cyclone events for Hawaii can be long-lived, affecting the state for a week or more.Steven Businger. [http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/courses/notes416/9KonaLow.pdf Kona Lows in Hawaii.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618124202/http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/courses/notes416/9KonaLow.pdf |date=2007-06-18 }} Retrieved on 2007-05-22. Kona lows produce a wide range of weather hazards for Hawaii. Among them are heavy rain, hailstorms, flash floods and their associated landslides, high winds which result in large surf and swells, waterspouts, and heavy snows on the higher mountains.Ian Morrison and Steven Businger. [http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/poster/KonaLow/ Synoptic Structure and evolution of a Kona low] Retrieved on 2009-05-22.

Kona winds are associated with cyclones with central pressures below {{convert|1000.0|hPa|inHg}} which pass within 500 miles/820 km northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. Strong Kona winds usually last for a day. Considerable damage is caused to boats lying southwest of the islands. On land, trees are uprooted and roofs can be blown off homes. When passing through mountain gaps and over mountains, downsloped winds gust over 100 mph/165 km/h, which causes much of the destruction.Pacific Disaster Center. [http://www.pdc.org/iweb/high_wind.jsp?subg=1 High Wind in Hawaii.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070424232503/http://www.pdc.org/iweb/high_wind.jsp?subg=1 |date=2007-04-24 }} Retrieved on 2007-05-22.

File:KonaLowNovember041995IR.jpg

The most powerful Kona storm in the last fifty years struck the Hawaiian islands between 8 January and 11 January 1980. The low pressure primarily responsible for the severe conditions had a barometric pressure of 975mb on January 8, while passing north of the state, one of the lowest pressure readings ever recorded in Hawaiian waters as a result of an extratropical storm.. [http://members.aol.com/Rosendalhe/unusual.htm Unusual Winter Storm, Hawaii.] Retrieved on 2007-11-23. The storm caused severe weather across the entire state, forcing the closure of all airports. Rainfall from the storm was extremely heavy, surpassing twenty inches in many locations, particularly on the Big Island and Maui. High surf from the storm caused extensive damage, particularly along the Kona coast of the Big Island, where the towns of Kailua-Kona and Puako received extensive damage. Winds from the storm averaged around 40-50 mph on the open ocean, but varied tremendously on land due to unique geographic features. Some areas experienced wind gusts well over hurricane force, including a low altitude gust of {{convert|106|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} on Lahaina Roads, Maui. Haiku, on the windward coast of Maui, experienced a wind gust of {{convert|75|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. On the high mountain summits of the Big Island and Maui, winds of over {{convert|110|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} were recorded. Damage from the storm was estimated at between $25 and 35 million (in 1980 dollars).{{Cite web|url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2018/08/lane-could-be-the-largest-maui-storm-since-one-in-1980/|title = Lane could be the largest Maui storm since one in 1980}}

In December 2008, lightning strikes from a Kona storm caused the entire power grid of the island of Oahu to black out, while then President-elect, Barack Obama was visiting.[https://web.archive.org/web/20081227162609/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1868825,00.html "Major Power Outage in Honolulu as Obama Visits"] in Time Magazine, December 27, 2008 In December 2010, a Kona storm became fully subtropical and eventually became Tropical Storm Omeka.

The fourth episode of the sixth season of Magnum, P.I. is entitled "The Kona Winds."

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Category:Types of cyclone

Category:Weather events in Hawaii

Category:Storm

Category:Extratropical cyclones

Category:Subtropical cyclones