HONOLULU (KHON2) – Trade winds will strengthen on Monday, becoming breezy and gusty in the afternoon and evening.

Localized wind gusts around 40 mph over and downwind of terrain could develop in the afternoon and evening as a ridge aloft maintains an inversion near 5000 ft.

These stable conditions will also limit rainfall, with modest showers focused across windward slopes.

Trade winds will remain breezy and gusty on Tuesday, as chances for showers increase.

Guidance is indicting increased precipitable water moving in from the east bringing a return of a more typical shower pattern over windward areas, especially for the Big Island and Maui County.

Shower frequency is expected increase within the breezy trade wind flow Tuesday night.

A disturbance aloft will move overhead and produce modest instability that will likely eliminate the inversion.

While details remains unclear, enhanced moisture in the trades will likely fuel increased, mainly windward, rainfall through Friday.

Trades will decline a notch Thursday and Friday but will remain locally breezy.

Small Craft Advisory from noon Monday to 6 PM HST Wednesday for all Hawaiian waters.