Alert archive / Hawaii / High Surf Warnings in 2016

High Surf Warning 13, NWS Honolulu, HI

March 18, 2016Honolulu County, Kauai County, Kalawao County, Hawaii

NWS Honolulu, HI issued this high surf warning at Mar 18, 2016, 1:01 PM HST for Honolulu County, Kauai County, Kalawao County, Hawaii. It was in force for 26 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
Mar 18, 2016, 1:01 PM HST (23:01 UTC)
Expired
Mar 19, 2016, 3:29 PM HST
In force
26 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 23:03 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 12:00Z, 11.0 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 12:00Z on 2016-03-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 9 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 2016-03-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -11 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1034 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
42 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

766 
WHHW40 PHFO 182301
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
101 PM HST FRI MAR 18 2016

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU KAUAI OAHU
MOLOKAI MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND...

HIZ001>003-007>009-012-013-017-019-020-025-191215-
/O.UPG.PHFO.SU.Y.0026.000000T0000Z-160320T0400Z/
/O.NEW.PHFO.SU.W.0013.160318T2301Z-160320T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-
OLOMANA-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-MAUI WINDWARD WEST-
MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-BIG ISLAND NORTH AND EAST-
101 PM HST FRI MAR 18 2016

...HIGH SURF WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM SATURDAY. THE HIGH SURF
ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* SURF...20 TO 30 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 600 PM SATURDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING ACROSS
  PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND STRONG
  CURRENTS. WAVES MAY BREAK ONTO SOME ROADWAYS AND DEPOSIT ROCKS
  AND OTHER DEBRIS...ESPECIALLY AROUND HIGH TIDE LATE TONIGHT. BREAKING
  WAVES MAY IMPACT HARBORS MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR CHANNELS
  DANGEROUS.

* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...THE CURRENT SWELL IS COMING IN FROM A
  MORE NORTHERLY DIRECTION THAN OUR TYPICAL WINTER SWELLS. A NEW
  NORTHWEST SWELL WILL ARRIVE TOMORROW AND AN ADVISORY MAY THEN BE
  NEEDED FOR WEST FACING SHORES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

STAY WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE IN AFFECTED AREAS. ENTERING THE
WATER WILL BE VERY HAZARDOUS. ANYONE ENTERING THE WATER COULD FACE
DEATH. BE PREPARED FOR ROAD CLOSURES.

&&

$$
DONALDSON
3 follow-up statements
965 
WHHW40 PHFO 190127
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
327 PM HST FRI MAR 18 2016

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU KAUAI OAHU
MOLOKAI MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND...

HIZ001>003-007>009-012-013-017-019-020-025-191430-
/O.CON.PHFO.SU.W.0013.000000T0000Z-160320T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-
OLOMANA-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-MAUI WINDWARD WEST-
MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-BIG ISLAND NORTH AND EAST-
327 PM HST FRI MAR 18 2016

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

* SURF...20 TO 30 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 600 PM SATURDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING 
  ACROSS PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND 
  STRONG CURRENTS. WAVES MAY BREAK ONTO SOME ROADWAYS AND 
  DEPOSIT ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS...ESPECIALLY AROUND HIGH TIDE 
  LATE TONIGHT. BREAKING WAVES MAY IMPACT HARBORS MAKING 
  NAVIGATING THE HARBOR CHANNELS DANGEROUS. 

* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...THE CURRENT SWELL IS COMING IN FROM A 
  MORE NORTHERLY DIRECTION THAN OUR TYPICAL WINTER SWELLS. A NEW 
  NORTHWEST SWELL WILL ARRIVE TOMORROW AND AN ADVISORY MAY THEN 
  BE NEEDED FOR WEST FACING SHORES 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

STAY WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE IN AFFECTED AREAS. ENTERING THE
WATER WILL BE VERY HAZARDOUS. ANYONE ENTERING THE WATER COULD
FACE DEATH. BE PREPARED FOR ROAD CLOSURES.

&&

$$
DONALDSON
151 
WHHW40 PHFO 191340
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
340 AM HST SAT MAR 19 2016

...HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
AND KAUAI AND FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF OAHU MOLOKAI MAUI AND
THE BIG ISLAND...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR WEST FACING SHORES OF OAHU AND
MOLOKAI...

.A COMBINATION OF A LARGE NORTHERLY SWELL CURRENTLY IN PLACE AND
A NEW LONG-PERIOD NORTHWEST SWELL THAT IS EXPECTED TO FILL IN
THROUGH THE DAY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WARNING-LEVEL SURF ALONG
NORTH FACING SHORES TODAY. SURF WILL BUILD THROUGH THE DAY TO
ADVISORY-LEVEL ALONG THE WEST FACING SHORES OF OAHU AND MOLOKAI
AS THE NORTHWEST SWELL FILLS IN. 

HIZ001>003-007>009-012-013-017-019-020-025-200245-
/O.CON.PHFO.SU.W.0013.000000T0000Z-160320T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-
OLOMANA-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-MAUI WINDWARD WEST-
MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-BIG ISLAND NORTH AND EAST-
340 AM HST SAT MAR 19 2016

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

* SURF...ALONG NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF KAUAI AND
  NIIHAU...AND ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES OF OAHU MOLOKAI MAUI AND
  THE BIG ISLAND...20 TO 30 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 600 PM TODAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH...EXPECT OCEAN WATER OCCASIONALLY SWEEPING ACROSS
  PORTIONS OF BEACHES...VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES AND STRONG
  CURRENTS. WAVES MAY BREAK ONTO SOME ROADWAYS AND DEPOSIT ROCKS
  AND OTHER DEBRIS...ESPECIALLY AROUND HIGH TIDE THROUGH THE EARLY
  AFTERNOON TODAY. ADDITIONAL BEACH EROSION. BREAKING WAVES MAY
  IMPACT HARBORS MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR CHANNELS DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

STAY WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE IN AFFECTED AREAS. ENTERING THE
WATER WILL BE VERY HAZARDOUS. ANYONE ENTERING THE WATER COULD
FACE DEATH. BE PREPARED FOR ROAD CLOSURES.

&&

$$

HIZ006-200245-
/O.NEW.PHFO.SU.Y.0027.160319T1340Z-160320T0400Z/
WAIANAE COAST-
340 AM HST SAT MAR 19 2016

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS EVENING. 

* SURF...ALONG WEST FACING SHORES OF OAHU AND MOLOKAI...8 TO 12
  FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 600 PM TODAY.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BEACHGOERS...SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN
BY OCEAN SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION. KNOW YOUR LIMITS
AND SEEK OCEAN RECREATION AREAS BEST SUITED FOR YOUR ABILITIES.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS...WHEN IN DOUBT...DO NOT GO OUT.

&&

$$

GIBBS
462 
WHHW40 PHFO 200129
CFWHFO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
329 PM HST SAT MAR 19 2016

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF NIIHAU
KAUAI OAHU AND MOLOKAI AND FOR NORTH FACING SHORES OF MAUI AND THE
BIG ISLAND...

.AN INCOMING LONG PERIOD NORTHWEST SWELL COMBINED WITH A DECLINING
LARGE NORTH SWELL WILL PRODUCE ADVISORY LEVEL SURF FOR EXPOSED NORTH
AND WEST FACING SHORES. SURF IS EXPECTED TO HOLD INTO SUNDAY
BEFORE DROPPING BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS.

HIZ001>003-007>009-012-013-017-019-020-025-201430-
/O.CAN.PHFO.SU.W.0013.000000T0000Z-160320T0400Z/
/O.EXB.PHFO.SU.Y.0027.000000T0000Z-160321T0400Z/
NIIHAU-KAUAI WINDWARD-KAUAI LEEWARD-OAHU NORTH SHORE-OAHU KOOLAU-
OLOMANA-MOLOKAI WINDWARD-MOLOKAI LEEWARD-MAUI WINDWARD WEST-
MAUI CENTRAL VALLEY-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-BIG ISLAND NORTH AND EAST-
329 PM HST SAT MAR 19 2016

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...
...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 SUNDAY. THE HIGH
SURF WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

* SURF...ALONG NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF KAUAI AND
  NIIHAU...AND ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES OAHU MOLOKAI MAUI AND THE
  BIG ISLAND...12 TO 18 FEET. SURF ALONG WEST FACING SHORES OF
  OAHU AND MOLOKAI...8 TO 12 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 600 PM SUNDAY.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BEACHGOERS...SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN
BY OCEAN SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION. KNOW YOUR LIMITS
AND SEEK OCEAN RECREATION AREAS BEST SUITED FOR YOUR ABILITIES.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS...WHEN IN DOUBT...DO NOT GO OUT.

&&

$$

HIZ006-201430-
/O.EXT.PHFO.SU.Y.0027.000000T0000Z-160321T0400Z/
WAIANAE COAST-
329 PM HST SAT MAR 19 2016

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST SUNDAY...

* SURF...ALONG WEST FACING SHORES OF OAHU...10 TO 14 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 600 PM SUNDAY.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BEACHGOERS...SWIMMERS...AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN
BY OCEAN SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION. KNOW YOUR LIMITS
AND SEEK OCEAN RECREATION AREAS BEST SUITED FOR YOUR ABILITIES.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS...WHEN IN DOUBT...DO NOT GO OUT.

&&

$$

Nearby

High Surf Warnings in Hawaii, 2016Every high surf warning in 2016

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.