Alert archive / Hawaii / High Surf Warnings in 2015

High Surf Warning 13, NWS Honolulu, HI

December 7, 2015Honolulu County, Kauai County, Kalawao County, Hawaii

NWS Honolulu, HI issued this high surf warning at Dec 7, 2015, 3:38 PM HST for Honolulu County, Kauai County, Kalawao County, Hawaii. It took effect at Dec 8, 2015, 9:00 AM HST. It was in force for 31 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 7, 2015, 3:38 PM HST (01:38 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 8, 2015, 9:00 AM HST
Expired
Dec 9, 2015, 3:38 PM HST
In force
31 hr
Issued by
NWS Honolulu, HI

Counties Honolulu County, HI, Kalawao County, HI, Kauai County, HI

The radar

The Molokai radar (PHMO), 116 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:37 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Lihue, (PHLI), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 127 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lihue, at 00:00Z on 2015-12-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 9 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lihue, at 00:00Z on 2015-12-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
9 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1015 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

375 
WHHW40 PHFO 080138
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
338 PM HST MON DEC 7 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
KAUAI OAHU AND MOLOKAI TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI TUESDAY
THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.A LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL WILL BRING ADVISORY LEVEL SURF TO THE
AFFECTED SHORES TUESDAY...AND RISE TO WARNING LEVELS LATER IN THE
DAY. THE SURF WILL PEAK TUESDAY NIGHT.

HIZ001>003-006>008-012-013-017-019-020-081445-
/O.NEW.PHFO.SU.W.0013.151208T1900Z-151210T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-WAIANAE COAST-
OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-
MAUI WINDWARD WEST-MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-
338 PM HST MON DEC 7 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TUESDAY TO 6 PM WEDNESDAY
FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU KAUAI OAHU AND
MOLOKAI...AND NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI...

* SURF...ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 20 TO 30 FEET. ALONG
  WEST FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 12 TO 20 FEET.

* TIMING...SURF WILL BUILD TUESDAY...WITH ADVISORY LEVEL SURF
  EXPECTED TUESDAY MORNING ON KAUAI AND BY AFTERNOON ON MAUI.
  EXPECT PEAK SURF HEIGHTS OVERNIGHT TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING
  ACROSS PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND
  STRONG LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS. BREAKING WAVES MAY
  OCCASIONALLY IMPACT HARBORS MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR CHANNEL
  DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LARGE BREAKING SURF...SIGNIFICANT SHOREBREAK...AND DANGEROUS
CURRENTS MAKE ENTERING THE WATER VERY HAZARDOUS. BEACHGOERS...
SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN BY OCEAN
SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION. 

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
323 
WHHW40 PHFO 081318
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
318 AM HST TUE DEC 8 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
KAUAI OAHU AND MOLOKAI THIS MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY... 
...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI THIS MORNING 
THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.A LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL WILL BRING ADVISORY LEVEL SURF TO THE
AFFECTED SHORES TODAY...AND RISE TO WARNING LEVELS THIS EVENING.
THE SURF WILL PEAK TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY.

HIZ001>003-006>008-012-013-017-019-020-090230-
/O.CON.PHFO.SU.W.0013.151208T1900Z-151210T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-WAIANAE COAST-
OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-
MAUI WINDWARD WEST-MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-
318 AM HST TUE DEC 8 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO
6 PM HST WEDNESDAY...

* SURF...ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 20 TO 30 FEET. 
  ALONG WEST FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 12 TO 20 FEET. 

* TIMING...SURF WILL BUILD TODAY...REACHING ADVISORY LEVEL LATER
  TODAY ON KAUAI. EXPECT PEAK SURF HEIGHTS TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING 
  ACROSS PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND 
  STRONG LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS. BREAKING WAVES MAY 
  OCCASIONALLY IMPACT HARBORS MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR 
  CHANNEL DANGEROUS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LARGE BREAKING SURF...SIGNIFICANT SHOREBREAK...AND DANGEROUS
CURRENTS MAKE ENTERING THE WATER VERY HAZARDOUS. BEACHGOERS...
SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN BY OCEAN
SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION.

&&

$$
073 
WHHW40 PHFO 081906
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
906 AM HST TUE DEC 8 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
KAUAI OAHU AND MOLOKAI THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...

.THE INCOMING LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL IS DELAYED SOME...WITH
ADVISORY LEVEL SURF NOW EXPECTED TO REACH KAUAI THIS
AFTERNOON...OAHU AND MOLOKAI THIS EVENING...AND MAUI TONIGHT. SURF
WILL BUILD TO WARNING LEVELS TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY.

HIZ001>003-006>008-012-013-017-019-020-090815-
/O.CON.PHFO.SU.W.0013.000000T0000Z-151210T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-WAIANAE COAST-
OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-
MAUI WINDWARD WEST-MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-
906 AM HST TUE DEC 8 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST WEDNESDAY...

* SURF...ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 20 TO 30 FEET. 
  ALONG WEST FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 12 TO 20 FEET. 

* TIMING...SURF WILL BUILD TODAY...REACHING ADVISORY LEVELS THIS
  AFTERNOON ON KAUAI...OAHU AND MOLOKAI THIS EVENING...AND MAUI
  TONIGHT. EXPECT PEAK SURF HEIGHTS TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING 
  ACROSS PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND 
  STRONG LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS. BREAKING WAVES MAY 
  OCCASIONALLY IMPACT HARBORS MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR 
  CHANNEL DANGEROUS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LARGE BREAKING SURF...SIGNIFICANT SHOREBREAK...AND DANGEROUS
CURRENTS MAKE ENTERING THE WATER VERY HAZARDOUS. BEACHGOERS...
SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN BY OCEAN
SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION.

&&

$$
294 
WHHW40 PHFO 090131
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
331 PM HST TUE DEC 8 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
KAUAI OAHU AND MOLOKAI THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...

.THE CURRENT NORTHWEST SWELL IS EXPECTED TO REACH WARNING LEVELS
OVERNIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...AND THEN GRADUALLY DECLINE THROUGH THE
WEEK.

HIZ001>003-006>008-012-013-017-019-020-091445-
/O.CON.PHFO.SU.W.0013.000000T0000Z-151210T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-WAIANAE COAST-
OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-
MAUI WINDWARD WEST-MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-
331 PM HST TUE DEC 8 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST WEDNESDAY...

* SURF...ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 20 TO 30 FEET. 
  ALONG WEST FACING SHORES PEAKING AT 12 TO 20 FEET. 

* TIMING...SURF WILL BUILD TO WARNING LEVELS TONIGHT...WITH PEAK
  SURF HEIGHTS TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING 
  ACROSS PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND 
  STRONG LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS. BREAKING WAVES MAY 
  OCCASIONALLY IMPACT HARBORS MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR 
  CHANNEL DANGEROUS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LARGE BREAKING SURF...SIGNIFICANT SHOREBREAK...AND DANGEROUS
CURRENTS MAKE ENTERING THE WATER VERY HAZARDOUS. BEACHGOERS...
SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN BY OCEAN
SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION.

&&

$$
056 
WHHW40 PHFO 091324
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
324 AM HST WED DEC 9 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
KAUAI OAHU AND MOLOKAI THROUGH THIS EVENING... 
...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI THROUGH
THIS EVENING...

.THE CURRENT NORTHWEST SWELL WILL PEAK TODAY...AND THEN GRADUALLY
DECLINE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.

HIZ001>003-006>008-012-013-017-019-020-100230-
/O.CON.PHFO.SU.W.0013.000000T0000Z-151210T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-WAIANAE COAST-
OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-
MAUI WINDWARD WEST-MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-
324 AM HST WED DEC 9 2015

...HIGH SURF WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...

* SURF...ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES...20 TO 30 FEET
  TODAY...DECREASING TO 16 TO 24 FEET TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. ALONG
  WEST FACING SHORES...12 TO 20 FEET TODAY...LOWERING TO 10 TO 16
  FEET TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

* TIMING...SURF PEAKING TODAY...THEN SUBSIDING TONIGHT AND
  THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING 
  ACROSS PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND 
  STRONG LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS. BREAKING WAVES MAY 
  OCCASIONALLY IMPACT HARBORS MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR 
  CHANNEL DANGEROUS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LARGE BREAKING SURF...SIGNIFICANT SHOREBREAK...AND DANGEROUS
CURRENTS MAKE ENTERING THE WATER VERY HAZARDOUS. BEACHGOERS...
SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN BY OCEAN
SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION.

&&

$$
920 
WHHW40 PHFO 100138
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
338 PM HST WED DEC 9 2015

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
KAUAI OAHU AND MOLOKAI THROUGH THURSDAY...

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI THROUGH
THURSDAY...

.A NORTHWEST SWELL PEAKED EARLIER TODAY AND WILL GRADUALLY DECLINE
THROUGH THURSDAY.

HIZ001>003-006>008-012-013-017-019-020-101445-
/O.CAN.PHFO.SU.W.0013.000000T0000Z-151210T0400Z/
/O.NEW.PHFO.SU.Y.0064.151210T0138Z-151211T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-WAIANAE COAST-
OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-
MAUI WINDWARD WEST-MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-
338 PM HST WED DEC 9 2015

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THURSDAY...
...HIGH SURF WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THURSDAY. THE HIGH
SURF WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

* SURF...ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES...16 TO 24 FEET TONIGHT...
  DECREASING TO 12 TO 18 FEET THURSDAY. ALONG WEST FACING
  SHORES...10 TO 16 FEET TONIGHT...LOWERING TO 8 TO 14 FEET THURSDAY.

* TIMING...TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...MODERATE...EXPECT STRONG BREAKING WAVES...SHORE
  BREAK...AND STRONG LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS MAKING SWIMMING
  DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

LARGE BREAKING SURF...SIGNIFICANT SHOREBREAK...AND DANGEROUS
CURRENTS MAKE ENTERING THE WATER VERY HAZARDOUS. BEACHGOERS...
SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN BY OCEAN
SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION.

&&

$$

MORRISON

The office that day

Everything else NWS Honolulu, HI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 7, 3:46 PM HSTSmall Craft AdvisoryHFO5 days

Nearby

High Surf Warnings in Hawaii, 2015Every high surf warning in 2015

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.