High Surf, Niihau
- When
- November 13, 11:00 PM HST to November 16, 2:00 AM HST
- Where
- Niihau forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf in Hawaii, November 13 to 16, 1996
An intense storm system to the northwest of the Kauai generated swell that impacted the north and west facing shores of all islands. On the 14th, surf of 15 to 20 feet with occasional sets to 25 feet closed beaches on Oahu's north shore from Kahuku to Haleiwa, and from 10 to 15 feet on the west shores at Kaena Point State Park and Yokohama Bay.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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.
An intense storm system to the northwest of the Kauai generated swell that impacted the north and west facing shores of all islands. On the 14th, surf of 15 to 20 feet with occasional sets to 25 feet closed beaches on Oahu's north shore from Kahuku to Haleiwa, and from 10 to 15 feet on the west shores at Kaena Point State Park and Yokohama Bay. Above normal tides caused additional high water during the early morning hours of the 14th with significant road damage to the Kamehameha Highway near Chun's Reef on the north shore.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
6 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
High Surf, Kauai Windward
- When
- November 13, 11:00 PM HST to November 16, 2:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai Windward forecast zone
High Surf, Kauai Leeward
- When
- November 14, 4:00 AM HST to November 16, 7:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai Leeward forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Oahu South Shore
- When
- November 14, 4:00 AM HST to November 16, 7:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu South Shore forecast zone
High Surf, Waianae Coast
- When
- November 14, 4:00 AM HST to November 16, 7:00 AM HST
- Where
- Waianae Coast forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Kauai Mountains
- When
- November 14, 8:00 AM HST to November 16, 11:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai Mountains 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
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, November 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: 5583336, 5583337, 5583338, 5583339, 5583340, 5583341.