HONOLULU (KHON2) - Broad high pressure north of the the main Hawaiian Islands centered near 40N is driving locally breezy trade winds across the state this afternoon as a low-level trough north-northwest of the islands moves west.

This trough will continue to move west and eventually dissipate through the rest of the weekend.

Meanwhile, latest satellite and radar imagery shows scattered clouds and a few showers favoring primarily windward and mountain areas.

Additionally, sea-breeze induced surface convergence has sparked the usual afternoon cloud buildups along the leeward coast of the Big Island as well.

Stable and relatively dry conditions will persist into early this evening as drier air moves over the islands.

However, gradual moistening is likely to resume tonight into Sunday leading to passing showers over windward areas and possibly a few sprinkles over leeward areas as well.

The best shower chances will be during the overnight through early morning hours.

Model guidance continues to indicate that a sharp 700 mb trough that can be seen on satellite imagery about 650 miles southeast of the Big Island will move west and bring increased low- and mid- level moisture over the islands from Sunday night through Monday.

Although low-level winds may only veer slightly to the east- southeast, the 700 mb flow will become southerly as the trough passes, leading to moisture extending as high as 12-15 kft, mainly over the Big Island.

With precipitable water expected to exceed 2 inches, the forecast continues to include the mention of heavy showers over the Big Island Sunday night into Monday.

While the moisture increase over the smaller islands is not expected to be as deep, at least a modest increase in windward showers is also likely.