Update: High surf warning extended through Saturday for north and west shores

Update at 4:22 a.m. Jan. 17: The high surf warning for north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau has been extended until 6 p.m. Saturday.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu also slightly changed expectations for wave heights along western shorelines to between 18 and 22 feet.

The large northwest swell will continue steadily filling in today and is still forecast to peak this afternoon through this evening.

Original post from midnight Jan. 17: Prepare for what seems to have become the norm this winter along north and west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau as surf is forecast to swell yet again to hazardously — and even dangerously — huge levels through today.

A high surf warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for those shores of both islands as another large west-northwest swell steadily fills in today and peaks this afternoon through this evening.

It won’t match the biggest surf so far this season, but breakers will definitely be treacherous, forecast to steadily build throughout the day to between 25 and 35 feet along north shores and from 15 to 25 feet for west shores Friday.

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

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu are expecting impacts from this surf event to be very high.

Ocean water will surge and sweep across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows, potentially impacting coastal properties and infrastructure, including roadways.

Most beaches along the north and west shores will experience powerful longshore and rip currents, with large breaking waves and strong currents making harbor entrances challenging to navigate.

People are urged to stay away from the shorelines along north and west coasts. Postponing entering or leaving channels and other ocean activities until warning level surf subsides is recommended.

You should also be prepared for coastal road closures in the affected areas, which could happen with little or no notice.

A statewide forecast dicussion from just after 9 p.m. Thursday still had the large, long period west-northwest swell filling in today and peaking sometime this evening, with warning level surf heights hanging in through Saturday morning.

The swell should gradually decrease from late Saturday into Monday, with another northwest swell arriving during the middle of next week.

Select eastside surf spots of the state also could experience some wraparound from the swell.

As for other Hawai‘i shores, an out-of-season south swell will continue to slowly fill in through today before gradually declining this weekend.

Surf along southern shorelines is forecast to increase slightly above average summertime heights during the swell’s peak this afternoon through early Saturday.

East shores of the state will see small surf during the next couple of days because of disrupted trade winds, but ocean waters will become rougher for the first 2 days of next week as northeasterly winds strengthen.

Visit the National Weather Service Honolulu website for up-to-date ocean and weather alerts and forecasts.

Speak with a Kaua‘i County lifeguard at any lifeguard station, visit the Safe Beach Day website or call the Kaua‘i Ocean Safety Bureau at 808-241-4984 for updated ocean conditions and safety information.