Update: High surf advisory canceled

Update at 7:32 a.m. Dec. 24: The islands received an early Christmas gift as surf finally, for the first time since early last week, dropped below advisory levels.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu sent out the message just before 3 a.m. today, and along with it canceled the high surf advisory that was in effect for north and west shores for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.

The news comes earlier than first forecast as wave heights associated with the significant northwest swell moving through the islands — which brought behemoth breakers of up to 50 feet to the north shores of both islands duriing the weekend — were not expected to gradually decrease until tonight through Wednesday as the swell moved out.

However, forecasters report the swell continues to trend down at the local buoys.

Update at 5:25 p.m. Dec. 23: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has canceled the high surf warning for the north and west shores for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau and replaced it with a high surf advisory that is in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

North shores are forecast to continue to experience surf of 18 to 22 feet tonight before falling to 10 to 15 feet Tuesday while west shores will continue to be pounded by surf of 14 to 18 feet tonight before heights fall to 8 to 12 feet tomorrow.

The significant northwest swell moving through the islands continues to gradually decrease. Heights will drop below advisory levels Tuesday night through Wednesday as the swell moves out.

Until then, the areas under the high surf advisory can still expect moderate impacts, such as strong breaking waves and strong currents, that will make swimming and other ocean activities dangerous.

The public is advised to heed all advice from ocean safety officials. When in doubt, don’t go out.

Update at 8:43 a.m. Dec. 23: Warning-level surf will continue through much of today along north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau as a significant northwest swell continues to impact the state.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu in response extended the high surf warning for those shorelines of both islands until 6 p.m. today.

After Sunday’s behemoth breakers peaking at 40 to 50 feet, surf continues to pump at 20 to 30 feet but is forecast to fall to to 20 to 25 feet this afternoon along north shores.

West shores are still seeing surf of 18 to 24 feet that is forecast to decline to 15 to 20 feet this afternoon.

Very strong breaking waves and powerful currents can still be expected along the warning shorelines. Breaking waves could also continue to make navigating channels dangerous.

The public is advised to continue to stay away from shorelines along the affected coasts. Be prepared for road closures, and postpone entering or leaving channels affected by the high surf until the surf subsides.

National Weather Service forecasters say surf heights will lower to advisory levels Tuesday, then drop below advisory levels Tuesday night through Wednesday as the swell moves out.

Update at 11:52 a.m. Dec. 21: The largest swell in a series of overlapping winter-caliber north-northwest swells is expected to arrive tonight, rapidly rise early Sunday and peak through the day, bringing with it monstrous surf that has the potential to impact coastal properties and infrastructure, including roadways.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu in anticipation of the swell’s arrival again extended the high surf warning in effect for north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. It is now in effect until 6 a.m. Dec. 23.

Surf of 30 to 40 feet if forecast along north shores of both islands, building to 40 to 50 feet Sunday. West shorelines will see surf of 15 to 25 feet, which will build to 25 to 35 feet Sunday.

“Entering the water in these areas during the high surf warning is very hazardous and could cause serious injury or death,” the Kaua‘i Fire Department said in an alert about the warning. “Beachgoers are also advised to use extreme caution, as large breaking waves could make it dangerous for those standing along the shoreline.”

Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Bureau officials are advising no swimming and ocean activities in North Shore waters from ‘Anini to Kē‘ē until further notice because of dangerous ocean conditions.

Surf heights will peak through the day Sunday, with the best chance for coastal impacts to properties and roadways during peak daily high tides through the early morning hours.

Impacts are expected to be very high, with ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows. Powerful longshore and rip currents also will be present at most beaches.

Large breaking waves and strong currents could impact harbor entrances and channels, causing
challenging boat handling.

Forecasters advise the public to:

• Stay away from the shoreline along the affected coasts.
• Be prepared for road closures.
• Postpone entering or leaving channels affected by the high surf until the surf subsides.

The swell moving in tonight will gradually ease Sunday night, but an extended period of hazardous surf and beach conditions will persist into early next week along north and west facing shores.

Surf associated with this most recent swell will remain well above warning levels through the weekend before returning to advisory levels for north and west shores by about Tuesday of next week.

For updated information about ocean and weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website.

For up-to-date information about Kaua‘i ocean conditions and ocean safety, speak to a Kaua‘i County lifeguard at any lifeguard station, click here or call the Kaua‘i County Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984.

Update at 5:06 p.m. Dec. 20: A high surf warning in effect for north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau was again extended until 6 p.m. Sunday.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu forecasts surf to build to 25 to 35 feet along north-facing shores and 20 to 25 feet along west-facing shores.

A series of large northwest-to-north-northwest swells will move through Hawaiian waters during the weekend and into early next week.

Warning-level surf will prevail along north and west shores of the smaller islands through the weekend, with a brief dip possible late Saturday and Saturday night.

Update at 6:07 a.m. Dec. 20: Surf will build to 25 to 35 feet along north shores today along coasts of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau and 20 to 25 feet along western shores as a series of large northwest to north-northwest swells continues moving through Hawaiian waters during the weekend and into early next week.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has again extended a high surf warning in effect for those shorelines on both islands in response. The warning is now in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday.

Surf will build to 25 to 35 feet along north-facing shores today and 20 to 25 feet along west-facing shores, causing very strong, breaking waves and powerful currents.

Waves breaking in channel entrances might make navigating channels dangerous.

Forecast officials advise the public to:

• Stay away from the shoreline along the affected coasts.
• Be prepared for road closures.
• Postpone entering or leaving channels affected by the high surf until the surf subsides.

Warning level surf is expected to generally prevail along north and west shorelines through the weekend, with a brief dip down to advisory levels possible late Saturday and Saturday night.

However, National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu say the largest swell is expected to arrive late Saturday night into Sunday.

That swell is forecast to bring the largest surf of the season so far to north-facing shores Sunday.

Update at 6:50 p.m. Dec. 19: Get used to it, folks. Extreme high surf looks to be the norm again this weekend.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu extended the high surf warning in effect for the north and west shorelines of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau to 6 a.m. Saturday, and forecasters are still saying it will likely need to be extended for the rest of the weekend.

Dangerously large breaking waves of 25 to 35 feet along north-facing shores and large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet along west-facing shores can be expected.

A series of large northwest to north-northwest swells will continue to move through Hawaiian waters into Monday.

The overlapping pulses of swell will likely maintain surf near or above warning thresholds along affected shores most of the time through at least the weekend, with the largest swell expected Sunday.

Update at 5:19 p.m. Dec. 18: The high surf warning in effect for north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau has been extended until 6 p.m. Friday, and the National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu says it likely will be extended again through the weekend.

Dangerously large breaking waves of 18 to 25 feet rising to 20 to 30 feet are expected Thursday along northern shorelines, with western shores to see large breaking waves of 12 to 18 feet rising to 15 to 20 feet.

A series of large northwest to north-northwest swells will continue to move through Hawaiian waters into Monday.

The overlapping pulses of swells will likely maintain surf near or above warning thresholds along affected shores most of the time through at least the weekend, with the largest swell expected Sunday.

Expect very strong breaking waves and powerful currents during the high surf warning period. Waves breaking in entrances might make navigating channel entrances dangerous.

The National Weather Service advises the public to stay away from shorelines along affected coasts, be prepared for road closures and postpone entering or leaving channels affected by the high surf until the surf subsides.

Original post at 4:17 p.m. Dec. 17: A high surf warning is in effect from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 p.m. Thursday for north- and west-facing shores on Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.

According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, the first in a series of large northwest-to-north-northwest (315-330 degrees) swells will build down the island chain overnight and Wednesday and will peak Wednesday night and Thursday.

Surf may reach high surf advisory levels as early as the late night hours and is expected to reach high surf warning levels by Wednesday afternoon. Additional pulses of swell from a similar direction will lead to periods of extra large surf through the weekend.

Dangerously large breaking waves are expected, rising to 18 to 25 feet along north-facing shores of Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i and Maui, and rising to 12 to 18 feet along west-facing shores of Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau, O‘ahu and Moloka‘i.

Beachgoers should expect strong breaking waves and powerful currents. Waves breaking in channel entrances may make navigating the channels dangerous.