Today’s Weather Brief · Audio · ~45s
Read the transcript
Trades are steady now with scattered showers on the windward side and ridges; the leeward coast stays mostly dry. Through Tuesday it stays breezy with rough seas around Maui and the Big Island, where a Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Tuesday evening.
A tropical disturbance southeast of the islands is likely to become a tropical storm by mid-week and approach the state Thursday through Saturday. The exact track is uncertain. Winds will increase across the eastern islands late this week, with potential for summit gusts over 70 mph on Maui and the Big Island if the storm intensifies.
Get your beach and snorkel time in today and tomorrow on the leeward coast. Avoid summit hikes and offshore water sports Thursday through Saturday as conditions deteriorate. The track could shift significantly—check updates daily.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out
Current Lihue Area Weather Snapshot
Microclimate Conditions
Mount Waialeale in Kauai's interior is one of the wettest spots on earth, which splits the island into a wet north and a dry south. The north shore around Hanalei and Princeville gets more rain year-round; the south shore around Poipu is typically drier, while Lihue sits on the southeast side. Here's what the two representative points look like right now.
Source: Open-Meteo model point estimates. Sustained wind and gusts are local, not islandwide observations; official watches and warnings take priority.
Live Weather Radar
Loading Kauai radar…
Source: NOAA / National Weather Service — loops show recent frames and refresh every 5 minutes. For zoom and pan controls, open the interactive NWS radar viewer.
7-Day Lihue Area Forecast
Source: Open-Meteo model forecast for Lihue (LIH). Each condition is the day's most severe modeled signal, which may be brief; it is not a whole-island forecast. Check NWS Honolulu for official watches and warnings.
Kauai Weather & Forecast
Kauai stays warm throughout the year, but mild temperatures do not mean every week brings mild weather. Use the island's usual rainfall patterns to choose a place to stay, then check the forecast and access conditions for your actual dates.
Planning after the 2026 storms: March brought severe rain and flooding, and Hurricane Lowell caused major disruption on Kauai in September. The monthly averages below describe the climate; they do not tell you whether a road, trail, beach, or hotel is ready for your visit. Start with our Kauai recovery guidance and Travel Alerts, then confirm your accommodation and activities directly.
If you're adamant about avoiding the rain, then, as you'll see below, the South Shore is certainly going to be your best bet. If a little rain doesn't bother you, then perhaps somewhere on the North Shore or East Shore would be better suited for you. You may also be interested in our When to Visit Kauai article for additional information, as well as average monthly rainfall amounts and temperatures. For now, though, let's take a look at Kauai's general weather patterns.
Kauai is known as the "Garden Isle" for good reason - it's lush, green, and wet (home to one of the wettest spots on Earth, actually). Many folks who love Kauai do so because they know its verdant appearance is thanks to a happy medium of both sunshine and rain. Plus, this means more rainbows. To date, we can certainly say we've seen more rainbows on Kauai than anywhere else in Hawaii; often double and even triple rainbows depending on the location - it's a sight to behold!
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Average Kauai Temperature & Precipitation
Each month shows the normal daily high / low temperature and monthly precipitation at the named airport station. These are 1991–2020 climate averages, not forecasts or whole-island averages. Scroll across the table to see every month.
| Airport location | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi Airport station · USW00022536 |
78.6 / 66.0°F 2.78 in. | 78.1 / 66.2°F 3.63 in. | 78.5 / 67.3°F 5.61 in. | 79.8 / 69.5°F 2.03 in. | 81.6 / 70.9°F 2.18 in. | 83.3 / 73.4°F 1.79 in. | 84.6 / 74.6°F 1.75 in. | 85.2 / 75.2°F 2.33 in. | 85.3 / 74.8°F 2.18 in. | 83.9 / 73.6°F 3.27 in. | 81.2 / 71.3°F 4.03 in. | 79.1 / 68.6°F 4.64 in. |
Source: NOAA NCEI monthly normals, checked September 15, 2026 (UTC). Values retain NOAA's published precision. Rainfall and temperature can differ sharply elsewhere on each island. Use the current forecast and Travel Alerts for daily plans.
Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi monthly climate normals
1991–2020 airport averages. Exact values and the NOAA source are in the table above.
High Low
Same rainfall scale for every airport
Kauai Weather Patterns
Use the regional patterns below to compare places to stay, not to predict a particular week's weather. Hawaii's winter rainstorms can interrupt the usual trade winds; the trades are generally more persistent in summer. The National Weather Service explains why even normally dry areas can receive heavy storm rain.
- Waimea is probably the driest of all the areas on the island but offers fewer accommodation choices than other locations.
- Poipu or Lawai, which offer an abundance of accommodations on the South Shore, is your best bet for a dry and sunny vacation. The area averages about 30-40" (76-102 cm) of rain each year.
- Kapaa on the Eastern (Coconut) Coast is your next best choice, averaging about 50" (127 cm) of rain annually.
- The fourth location is also the wettest, but offers gorgeous scenery and lush surroundings - it's the North Shore: Princeville, Hanalei, Kilauea, etc. This area gets around 85" (216 cm) each year.
Choose your base around the activities you most want to do: hiking, beach time, swimming, or snorkeling. Kauai's road network does not form a complete loop, and crossing between regions can take much longer than an hour, especially with traffic or storm damage. A shower may pass quickly, but do not drive toward another coast without checking your route during a severe-weather event. Our Where to Stay on Kauai guide compares the regions; Trail and Road Status covers reported access restrictions.
Also, you'll find more information about Hawaii weather in our Hawaii Weather and Climate Patterns article.
Kauai storms: Iniki, March 2026, and Lowell
Hurricane Iniki crossed Kauai on September 11, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane. It remains an important historical reference, but damaging storms on Kauai did not end in 1992.
March 2026: Successive weather systems brought prolonged heavy rain across Hawaii from March 10–24. The National Weather Service's preliminary totals included 13.59 inches at Lihue Airport and 13.85 inches at Poipu during that period. Even the generally drier South Shore can receive substantial rain during a severe storm.
September 2026: Hurricane Lowell passed west of Kauai early September 8. Kauai County reported damaging winds, heavy rain, high surf, widespread outages, fallen trees, and coastal-surge damage. Lowell's offshore track did not spare the island serious impacts. Those reports describe the event; use our Kauai recovery guidance for the latest location-specific travel decisions.
Central Pacific hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, but flooding can also happen outside that season. Before a hike, beach day, or cross-island drive, check NWS Honolulu, Travel Alerts, and the operator or managing agency. Improving weather does not establish that a road, park, or trail has reopened.
Kauai Rainfall Map
The map below should also help you visualize which areas are the wettest and driest on the island.
Kauai Tours & Activities
Pick your favorite way to explore and you can surely do it on Kauai. Hit the trail on horseback for a beautiful adventure, snorkel the pristine waters, or explore the island- and it’s spectacular NaPali Coast- in a helicopter for a truly unique perspective. From the rugged peaks to the lush valleys, these Garden Isle tours will leave you speechless.
Kauai Resources
When’s the best time to visit Kauai? What are the best sights? Where should I stay? Which beach is perfect for kids? Everything you need to plan, book, and go to Kauai is right here!
Kauai Accommodations
Personalize your R&R with our handpicked selections of the best Kauai accommodations. Up for some poolside pampering and a luxury experience? How about a family-friendly vacation rental for the whole gang? Prefer peace and quiet and an intimate setting? Then a cozy bed and breakfast is perfect for you. Book your Kauai stay today.
