Blustery trade winds are returning to the islands this week, bringing the possibility of heavy showers with them.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu issued a “special weather statement” Wednesday afternoon for the entire island chain warning of the possibility of increased rain starting overnight and lasting into the weekend.

“Strengthening trade winds will bring moisture over Hawaii from the east which will interact with an approaching upper-level trough from the north,” the statement said. “Windward and mauka showers will increase in coverage as the moisture arrives overnight and Thursday. The upper trough will destabilize the atmosphere over us Thursday night or Friday allowing for locally heavy passing showers at times through the weekend.”

Windward and mauka areas of the islands are expected to get most of the rain, but some showers will also hit leeward areas, forecasters said.

They said the trade winds will continue to strengthen this weekend, and showers “will begin to taper off late Sunday as the moisture moves west of the area,” the statement said. Although the rain will ease, the strong trade winds are expected to continue cooling the islands into early next week.