High Wind Warning Issued for Big Island Lower Elevations Through Sunday Morning

Source: NOAA · Big Island, Hawaii

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NWS Honolulu has issued a High Wind Warning for the Big Island, with southwest winds up to 40 mph and gusts reaching 60 mph expected through 6 AM Sunday.

What this NWS weather alert tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by NOAA on March 28, 2026 and geographically references Big Island, Hawaii. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Weather Alerts — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly NOAA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized NWS weather alert is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (weather, alert, High Wind Warning, Big Island) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a High Wind Warning for the lower elevations of the Big Island. This alert (NWS code: HWW) indicates that severe weather conditions are likely and requires immediate preparation.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic scope across the Big Island, including:

  • Kona and Kohala
  • Big Island Interior
  • Big Island South, Southeast, East, and North

While strong gusty winds are possible island-wide, the NWS notes that communities located north and east of steep mountains, specifically within the Kona and Kau Districts, are at the highest risk.

What You Should Do

Residents should take the following actions to ensure safety and protect property:

  • Secure Property: Bring loose outdoor items inside or secure them properly to prevent them from becoming projectiles.
  • Driving Safety: Exercise extreme caution while driving. Powerful crosswinds will create hazardous conditions, especially for drivers of lightweight or high-profile vehicles.
  • Prepare for Outages: Be aware that damaging winds may blow down trees and power lines, which could lead to power outages.

Expected Conditions

Southwest winds are forecast to increase to speeds of 30 to 40 mph. Wind gusts are expected to reach up to 60 mph in lower elevations. These conditions are strong enough to cause roof damage and significant utility disruptions.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is effective as of 1:13 PM HST on Friday, March 13, 2026. The hazardous conditions are expected to persist until the alert expires at 6:00 AM HST on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Honolulu has issued a High Wind Warning for the Big Island, with southwest winds up to 40 mph and gusts reaching 60 mph expected through 6 AM Sunday.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Big Island, Hawaii. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.