High Wind Warning Issued for Haleakala and Big Island Summits with Gusts up to 110 MPH

Source: NOAA · Hawaii Summits

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, the CDC PLACES population-level health analysis, and the CMS Hospital Compare quality data, Areazine publishes editorial articles drawing on more than 19,000 U.S. city profiles. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for Hawaii's high-elevation summits, forecasting dangerous winds and gusts reaching 110 mph through Sunday evening.

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

This notice was issued by NOAA on March 26, 2026 and geographically references Hawaii Summits. 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, Hawaii) 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 (NWS) in Honolulu has issued a High Wind Warning for high-elevation areas in Hawaii. The warning is in effect as significant wind speeds are expected to impact the region's summits.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the Haleakala Summit and the Big Island Summits. This includes geographic zones HIZ022 and HIZ028.

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors are advised to take necessary precautions to protect property. Travel to summit areas should be delayed until winds subside. Officials warn that winds of this magnitude can forcefully open or slam doors, potentially damaging hinges or causing injuries. Driving and walking in these conditions is considered dangerous.

Expected Conditions

Forecasters expect southwest winds ranging from 55 to 75 mph. Peak gusts are projected to reach up to 110 mph. According to the NWS, a High Wind Warning at these summits indicates sustained winds of at least 56 mph or gusts exceeding 66 mph.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning begins at 6:00 PM HST this evening, March 12. The alert is scheduled to remain in effect until 6:00 PM HST on Sunday, March 15.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

All Weather Alerts →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for Hawaii's high-elevation summits, forecasting dangerous winds and gusts reaching 110 mph through Sunday evening.
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 Hawaii Summits. 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.