----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mauna Loa Solar Observatory Observer's Log ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat Jul 16 16:32:07 GMT 2022 Year: 22 Doy: 197 Observer: mlso WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Sat Jul 16 16:35:14 GMT 2022 Temp: 42.5f, Humidity: 100%, Pressure: 28.696in, Wind: 12mph from 105degs. Rainy and overcast from Hilo up through the Saddle Valley. Dense fog from approximately 8500' elevation to the observatory. Fog and wet conditions at the science center and observatory. Some breaking of the clouds to the west-northwest but overall overcast skies with fog and mist. ___end___ GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Sat Jul 16 16:35:49 GMT 2022 The dome is to remain closed due to very poor sky conditions. ___end___ WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Sat Jul 16 16:42:42 GMT 2022 Heavy rain has begun to fall at the science area. ___end___ GENERAL COMMENT BY mcotter: Sat Jul 16 17:21:33 GMT 2022 The rainfall is increasing and the wind is getting stronger and gusty. Currently the wind is blowing strong from the east and the rain is blowing sideways. ___end___ WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Sat Jul 16 19:20:27 GMT 2022 The morning continues to be rainy, wet, cold, windy and generally crummy! ___end___ WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Sat Jul 16 19:29:42 GMT 2022 According to satellite weather images the hurricane system which has been approaching the Hawaiian Island for the last week or so has finally arrived, though much diminished in strength and severity. Currently the storm system, name "Hurricane Darby", has entered cooler waters that are generally off the east coast of the Big Island and has broken down to a large "Tropical Storm" category. It is currently located immediately south of the Big Island of Hawaii and is bringing with it high winds and heavy rainfall. Mauna Loa mountain is currently enveloped in the cloud bands of this Tropical Storm system and will likely continue to be over the next 24 hours. ___end___ WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Sat Jul 16 20:07:39 GMT 2022 Satellite images show the downgraded storm system of "Hurricane Darby" moving south of the Big Island of Hawaii and toward the west-southwest of the Big Island. Additional satellite images show a large storm system advancing toward the Hawaiian Islands from the north and west. Satellite images currently indicate a large spread out storm system carrying heavy rains moving easterly, just beginning to cross Kauai Island and moving toward the Big Island of Hawaii. This weather system may affect observatory operations and should arrive sometime tomorrow. ___end___ WEATHER COMMENT: mcotter: Sat Jul 16 23:37:48 GMT 2022 Temp: 50.7f, Humidity: 100%, Pressure: 28.614in, Wind: 32mph from 121degs. Heavy cloud coverage with rain, fog and mist continue. The winds are getting very strong and gusty. Due to the current weather conditions observations for today are not likely. With the worsening weather and the increasingly high winds from the Tropical storm I am leaving the observatory early today. According to satellite images, this weather pattern is likely to remain throughout the rest of the day and night. Tomorrow the weather forecast similarly shows the possibility of poor weather at the observatory. ___end___ ONSITE STAFF: mcotter