Here's how the weather created dangerous wildfire conditions in Hawaii

Hawaii's typical summer trade winds were strengthened dramatically as a strong hurricane passed hundreds of miles south of the island chain on Tuesday.

Hawaii's typical summer trade winds were strengthened dramatically as a strong hurricane passed hundreds of miles south of the island chain on Tuesday.

IN THE MEANTIME, OUR METEOROLOGIST, HEATHER WALDMAN TRACKING THE WINDS ON HAWAII. IN HAWAII. SO WHAT’S MADE THEM SO STRONG? WELL, THERE’S A FEW FACTORS PLAYING IN HERE. FIRST BEING THE SEASONAL TRADE WINDS THAT ARE THERE DAY TO DAY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. AND THEN LISA MENTIONED HURRICANE DORA. NOW EVEN AT ITS CLOSEST PASS YESTERDAY DAY, IT WAS STILL HUNDREDS OF MILES TO THE SOUTH OF THE ISLANDS. AND IT’S MOVING WELL AWAY TODAY. BUT WE STILL HAVE RED FLAG WARNING CONDITIONS FOR THE ENTIRE ISLAND CHAIN ON THE WESTWARD SIDE, WHAT WE CALL THE LEEWARD SIDE, OR THE DRIER SIDE OF THE ISLANDS. THIS IS A LOOK AT THE TRADE WINDS. THEY TYPICALLY BLOW NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. AND ON AN AVERAGE DAY, THOSE WINDS ARE SUSTAINED ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 15MPH, WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 20 AND 25MPH. HERE’S HURRICANE DORA, STILL A CATEGORY FOUR STORM. AGAIN, HUNDREDS OF MILES TO THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND. BUT BETWEEN THE ENERGY FROM THIS STORM AND THE CIRCULATION AROUND THIS AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WERE AMPLIFIED BUYING THOSE TRADE WINDS. SO YESTERDAY, WINDS WERE GUSTING BETWEEN 50 AND 60MPH ON MAUI AND PARTS OF THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII. AND, OF COURSE, SOME LOCALIZED HIGHER GUSTS REPORTED IN THERE AS WELL. THIS IS THE TRACK OF DORA. AGAIN. IT IS MOVING AWAY, BUT WE’RE STILL LOOKING AT BREEZY CONDITIONS TODAY FOR THE ISLANDS, HENCE THE RED FLAG WARNING WITH CONDITIONS HOPEFULLY IMPROVING TOMORROW.

Here's how the weather created dangerous wildfire conditions in Hawaii

Hawaii's typical summer trade winds were strengthened dramatically as a strong hurricane passed hundreds of miles south of the island chain on Tuesday.

Strong winds continue to fan several wildfires on Hawaii's Big Island as well as Maui. The threat for fast-moving wildfires has been particularly high on the westward sides of the islands since Tuesday. During the summer months, seasonal trade winds blow from northeast to southwest each day. Typically, those winds range from 10 to 15 mph with gusts between 20 and 25 mph. Earlier this week, Hurricane Dora formed in the East Pacific and quickly strengthened. The storm remained hundreds of miles south of Hawaii but as it passed by, the energy from the storm combined with an area of high pressure to the north amplified the daily trade winds.Gusts on Maui's west shore ranged from 50 to 60 mph Tuesday and Tuesday night. | RELATED | At least 6 killed in wildfires that devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui, official saysHurricane Dora will continue to move away from Hawaii Wednesday.Adding to the fire danger is the ongoing drought on the western side of Maui. This area is typically drier than the eastern side, but persistently dry conditions over several months likely created drier than normal fuels. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the western side of the Hawaiian Islands through 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday. | More Like This | Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan explains the winds driving the Maui wildfire

Strong winds continue to fan several wildfires on Hawaii's Big Island as well as Maui.

The threat for fast-moving wildfires has been particularly high on the westward sides of the islands since Tuesday.

During the summer months, seasonal trade winds blow from northeast to southwest each day. Typically, those winds range from 10 to 15 mph with gusts between 20 and 25 mph.

Hearst Owned

Daily trade winds blow from northeast to southwest during the summer months in Hawaii.

Earlier this week, Hurricane Dora formed in the East Pacific and quickly strengthened. The storm remained hundreds of miles south of Hawaii but as it passed by, the energy from the storm combined with an area of high pressure to the north amplified the daily trade winds.

Hearst Owned

Even though Hurricane Dora remained well to the south of Hawaii, energy from the storm dramatically intensified trade winds on Tuesday.

Gusts on Maui's west shore ranged from 50 to 60 mph Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Hurricane Dora will continue to move away from Hawaii Wednesday.

Adding to the fire danger is the ongoing drought on the western side of Maui. This area is typically drier than the eastern side, but persistently dry conditions over several months likely created drier than normal fuels.

Hearst Owned

Hurricane Dora will continue to move away from the Hawaiian Islands today.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the western side of the Hawaiian Islands through 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

| More Like This | Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan explains the winds driving the Maui wildfire

Here's how the weather created dangerous wildfire conditions in Hawaii

Hawaii's typical summer trade winds were strengthened dramatically as a strong hurricane passed hundreds of miles south of the island chain on Tuesday.

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