Hawaii Climate

What happens during orographic rainfall?

• Dry air sinks and always freezes
• Seawater boils and becomes lava
• Mountains stop all cloud formation
• Moist air rises, cools, and condenses over mountains

Why does a rain shadow often produce drier leeward slopes?

• Air descends and warms after crossing the mountain
• Winds carry groundwater uphill
• The sun never shines on windward slopes
• The ocean is absent from the islands

Why can nearby Hawaiian communities receive very different rainfall?

• Mountain terrain changes the path and cooling of moist air
• Every rain gauge records the same amount
• Rainfall depends only on county names
• Hawaii has no prevailing winds

How does Hilo’s climate generally compare with the Kona side of Hawaiʻi Island?

• Hilo is always drier than Kona
• Both sides have exactly the same rainfall
• Neither side receives rainfall
• Hilo’s eastern side is typically wetter

Why are high Hawaiian summits cooler than nearby coastlines?

• The ocean heats summits more
• Higher places are closer to Earth’s core
• Air temperature usually decreases with elevation
• Mountains cannot receive sunlight

Which months generally make up Hawaii’s warmer season?

• November through April
• May through October
• January through February only
• December through March only

When can windward Hawaiian locations receive trade-wind showers?

• Only during the summer solstice
• Never while trade winds blow
• Only when snow covers beaches
• Even outside the main winter storm season

Which situation is possible during a Hawaiian drought?

• Leeward areas are dry while windward slopes remain rainy
• Every island has exactly the same rainfall
• All mountain streams turn to lava
• Coastal storms stop permanently