Applied to the Big Island, since the trade winds blow from the northeast and must pass over the mass of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, it means that the Hilo side is considerably rainier than the Kona side. The best place to view this rain shadow effect is to drive from Kohala to Hilo through the town of Waimea.
Is it better to go to Kona or Hilo?
Kona offers better weather, the best beaches and snorkeling, newer resorts, more vacation rentals, and more nightlife compared to Hilo Town. Hilo is worth a visit but may not be worth staying for more than a night. Erica and I make Kailua-Kona our launching pad during our Big Island vacations.
What is the wettest part of the Big Island?
HiloThe windward/east side of the island (Hilo) receives by far the most rain. As you can see on the map below, Hilo gets between 10 and 40 times as much rain as the driest parts of the Big Island.
Which side of Hawaii gets more rain?
windward sideThe islands receive most rainfall from the trade winds on their north and east flanks (the windward side) as a result of orographic precipitation. Coastal areas are drier, especially the south and west side or leeward sides.
Why is Kona drier than Hilo?
It also means that the leeward side of the island (and the other Hawaiian islands) is typically drier than the windward side of the island – hence Kona is generally dry with low rainfall while Hilo experiences a high annual rainfall.
Is Hilo always rainy?
Hilo weather is rarely dry for days at a time. The driest month is June, with just over 7 inches of rainfall on average. The wettest month is November with an average rainfall of nearly 16 inches.
Does Hilo Hawaii get a lot of rain?
Hilo is lush and green, with beautiful tropical plants and flowers, magnificent waterfalls nearby and plenty of rainbows. Average annual rainfall varies considerably the farther inland you go. Around 130 inches of rain per year falls near the shore, whereas close to 200 inches falls upslope on the nearby foothills.
Does it rain a lot in Hilo Hawaii?
According to the National Weather Service, Hilo averages about 130 inches of rain a year. That is a mind-blowing 10 feet of rain a year on average.
What side of the Big Island has better weather?
When the winds bring humid ocean air up against the mountains it provides lots of rain on the East side of the Island. The mountains then leave the west side of the Island sunny, dry and warm. It is said to be “eternal springtime” on the West side of the Island, with almost constant warm and sunny weather.
Is Hilo or Kona more rainy?
What part of Hawaii gets least rain?
The driest and sunniest area of the Island is found on the Kohala Coast. Home to the Kohala Resort Area, the sunny Kohala Coast gets an average of just 10 inches of rainfall per year, making it the most popular part of the Island for vacationers!
What is the rainiest island in Hawaii?
KauaiNicknamed the “Garden Isle” for its magically lush appearance, Kauai is considered one of the rainiest places on earth. Over 460 inches of rain fall annually on this tiny Hawaiian island, making it prone of some flooding at certain times throughout the year.
Is Hilo the rainiest city in the world?
The wettest city in the world is Buenaventura, where it rains 258 days per year. Australia's rainiest city is Cairns in Queensland, with 117 days of precipitation. The UK's wettest city is Londonderry in Northern Ireland (147 days). The wettest city in the US is Hilo, Hawaii (211 days).
What is the rainiest city in Hawaii?
Hilo, HawaiiHilo, HawaiiKnown for its dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforests and blooming gardens, Hilo is full of amazing sites and world-class beauty. It's also known as the wettest place in the United States, averaging about 12 in. of rain per month.
What is the rainiest month in Hilo Hawaii?
NovemberThe wettest month is November, the driest month June. Most of this rain falls between the late afternoon and early morning, but especially in March/April and November/December it can be wise to pack a small umbrella. Roughly half of the days in Hilo are completely cloudy.
Does Hilo rain everyday?
So, Does it Always Rain in Hilo? The answer is both yes and no. We show a high chance of rain every day on the weather report, and they are almost always correct. If we don't get our early morning rain, that is unusual.
What is the rainiest Hawaii Island?
Mount Wai'ale'ale on the gorgeous island of Kaua'i is often referred to as the wettest spot on earth. While the more than 5,000-foot tall mountain that's often enshrouded in clouds does receive a tremendous amount of rainfall each year, it's more accurately “one of” the wettest spots on earth.
Which side of the Big Island has the least rainfall in Hawaii?
leeward sideRainfall is higher on the windward side (north and east) and lower on the leeward side (west and south).
How often does it rain in Hilo Hawaii?
On average Hilo receives at least some accumulation of rainfall 275 days each year. That's not to say the sun never shines! There are extended periods during the day with little or no rain, and much of the rainfall occurs at night.
What is the wettest city in Hawaii?
Hilo, HawaiiHilo, HawaiiKnown for its dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforests and blooming gardens, Hilo is full of amazing sites and world-class beauty. It's also known as the wettest place in the United States, averaging about 12 in. of rain per month.