High Surf Advisory, Warning Issued for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau

High surf conditions are expected for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau starting tonight.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a high surf advisory for north and west facing shores of both islands through 6 a.m. Sunday. A high surf warning for the same areas goes into effect at 6 a.m. Saturday and runs through 6 a.m. Sunday.

According to the NWS, a lingering northwest swell will be reinforced tonight as a new northwest swell arrives. Advisory level surf will continue over north and west facing shores of Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i, and increase to warning levels Saturday.

Some of those areas could see warning level surf as the swell peaks Saturday night or Sunday. The swell is then expected to subside through Monday night, with an additional period of advisory level surf after the peak.

Surf tonight is forecast to be 10-15 feet for north-facing shores and 7-12 feet for west-facing shores. Surf is expected to increase to 25-30 feet along north-facing shores Saturday and 15-20 feet for west-facing shores.

The weather service expects ocean water occasionally sweeping across portions of beaches, very strong breaking waves and strong longshore and rip currents. Breaking waves could occasionally impact harbors, making navigating the harbor channel dangerous.

As the swell subsides Sunday night and Monday, advisory level surf can be expected again.

Anyone entering the water could face significant injury or death.

Boaters should be aware of an increased number of surfers and body boarders using the harbor channel to access surfing areas.