High Surf, Kauai Mountains
- When
- February 17, 2:00 AM HST to 8:00 PM HST
- Where
- Kauai Mountains forecast zone
- Property damage
- $230,000
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf in Hawaii, February 17, 1996
A stationary storm over the northeast Pacific centered 1,200 miles north-northeast of Hawaii, generated large north swells that caused high surf and surges for Hilo Harbor. G.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $230,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS HFO wrote it up.
A stationary storm over the northeast Pacific centered 1,200 miles north-northeast of Hawaii, generated large north swells that caused high surf and surges for Hilo Harbor. The U.S.C.G. Cutter Kiska sustained $100,000 in damage while moored in the Radio Bay area of Hilo Harbor. According to the commanding officer, extreme surging action developed as large waves filled the mooring area. Wave heights of 15 to 20 feet occurred outside Hilo Harbor and 6 to 10 feet inside the harbor. Ocean front streets were closed in Hilo and several lower units of a condominium were flooded in Keaukaha, 3 miles southeast of Hilo. Cars were damaged in the flooded parking lots of two condominium buildings.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
2 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
High Surf, Kauai Leeward
- When
- February 17, 2:00 AM HST to 8:00 PM HST
- Where
- Kauai Leeward forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- High Surf
- Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Frost and Freeze in Florida, February 17, 1996
- High Wind in Oregon, February 17 to 18, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 17 to 18, 1996
- Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 17 to 18, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 17 to 18, 1996
- High Wind in Alaska, February 17, 1996
- High Wind in Alaska, February 17 to 18, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Nevada, February 17 to 18, 1996
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, February 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5566029, 5566030.