Update: High surf advisory for north and west shores canceled

Update at 3:16 p.m. Jan. 14: Surf has fallen below advisory levels and will continue to decline during the next couple of days, so the National Weather Service in Honolulu has canceled the high surf advisory that was in effect for north and west shores for Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.

The advisory had initially been extended until 6 p.m. today.

Original post from 5:47 p.m. Jan. 12: It’s been a very active 2024-25 winter for ocean swells, with little to no relief at times between high surf events for much of Hawai‘i, including the north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.

That pattern won’t change heading into this workweek as one moderate northwest swell already peaked and will gradually fade overnight but another large swell is on its way that once again will bring even higher surf and hazardous ocean conditions.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu issued a high surf advisory for north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau that goes into effect at 6 a.m. Monday and runs through 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet are expected along northern shorelines and 12 to 16 feet along western coastlines of both islands.

Moderate impacts are anticipated from the next and newest round of advisory level surf, with strong breaking waves and strong currents making swimming and other ocean activities dangerous.

Forecasters again urge the public to heed all advice from ocean safety officials — as always, when in doubt, don’t go out.

The National Weather Service’s afternoon area forecast discussion for Hawai‘i said the new larger northwest will quickly build in Monday, taking the place of the swell fading now, and is expected to peak Monday afternoon or evening then gradually decline through midweek.

Looking ahead, an even larger northwest swell is forecast to build later this week, with that third and largest swell possibly bringing warning level surf to most north and west shores of the state Friday and Saturday.