Monthly Archives: February 2016

Low Level Wind Shear

Surface analysis from 2 pm HST 2/16/16 showing strong high pressure northwest of Hawaii. Image courtesy of NOAA.

Surface analysis from 2 pm HST 2/16/16 showing strong high pressure northwest of Hawaii.

On February 16th, 2016, a 1037mb high northwest of the state brought strong and gusty northeast trade winds to the islands.  We received many reports of low-level wind shear, some which we were due to non-convective wind shear and some of which were due to convective mixing and gusty winds.  What are the different types of wind shear, when is wind shear included in a TAF, and what can you do to mitigate the risk from it when you fly?

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Proposal to Undermine Complete Streets

There is a bill under consideration by the Honolulu City Council that will effectively undo the Complete Streets ordinance enacted by the council in 2012.  Bill 84 (2015) would require any money to be spent on bikeways or complete street improvements to be specifically identified as a project in the executive capital budget ordinance.  This would severely limit the options of the city for adding improvements, since many recent complete street projects have been accomplished within the existing operating budget.  Since the whole point of the “Complete Streets” policy is to look for opportunities in every transportation project, this bill would negate Honolulu’s “Complete Streets” ordinance.

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