Aviation
National Program
The Hawaii Forecast Office (HFO) is 1 of 3 Meteorological Watch Offices (MWO) with aviation forecast responsibilities across the Pacific Ocean. Unlike other WFOs, HFO issues additional aviation products, as well as the normally-issued WFO items. The HFO area of responsibility covers the main Hawaiian Islands and Pacific Ocean Airspace west of 140°W and then south of 30°N.
Products:
AIRMETs (covers the main Hawaiian Islands and the waters extending out 40 NM from them)
SIGMETs (covers west of 140W and south of 30N)
Area Forecasts (covers the main Hawaiian Islands and the waters extending out 40 NM from them)
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) (11 total terminals, with 2 outside Hawaiian Islands; Midway (PMDY) and American Samoa (NSTU))
Wind and Temperature Aloft Forecasts (covers the main Hawaiian Islands and the waters extending out 40 NM from them)
Collaboration regularly occurs between HFO and meteorologists in neighboring offices including the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to ensure continuity of SIGMETs when hazards occur in neighboring ocean airspaces.
Due to volcanic activity within the region, the HFO also coordinates Volcanic Ash SIGMETs with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) in Washington as well as the Hawaii Volcano Observatory.
