A weather event that isn’t seen too much in Hawaii** but is extremely dangerous on the mainland are low level wind shears (LLWS).

Example:

Tonight the wind is gusting to 51 knots thru the Gorman Pass and is calm in the Los Angeles Basin . Sky is clear.



**(1) Usually associated with frontal passages in the islands

We had some of that on backhauls from the reserve combat support hospital at Ft. Irwin to March AFB or Norton AFB if going to Loma Linda hospital in Hueys during exercises in the desert. We were "Evac" clearance, however, and got vectors direct to LOM with straight in clearance. The amazing flexibility of the rotor blades make for a better ride than fixed wing. The Air Force had a video looking down the blade on a Jolly Green and it was like cracking a whip. Big bends up and down that blade continuously.

This morning’s AIRMET for LLWS @ the surface. SoCal has some very amazing micro climates. Gorman is GUSTING to 48 knots and a few miles away it’s calm.

05:30 PDT:

Gorman is a venturi with winds that can really howl.