High Surf, Island of Hawaii
- When
- April 2, 12:00 AM HST to April 4, 5:00 AM HST
- Where
- Island of Hawaii forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf in Hawaii, April 2 to 4, 1997
A storm low far to the north of the Hawaiian Islands generated swell that produced surf of 10 to 15 feet with occasional sets to 20 feet along the north shores of all islands. m.
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.
A storm low far to the north of the Hawaiian Islands generated swell that produced surf of 10 to 15 feet with occasional sets to 20 feet along the north shores of all islands. Surf ranged from 8 to 12 feet along the west shores of Kauai and Oahu through about 5 p.m. on the 3rd.
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
- When
- April 2, 12:00 AM HST to April 4, 5:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Lanai
- When
- April 2, 12:00 AM HST to April 4, 5:00 AM HST
- Where
- Lanai forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Maui
- When
- April 2, 12:00 AM HST to April 4, 5:00 AM HST
- Where
- Maui forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Molokai
- When
- April 2, 12:00 AM HST to April 4, 5:00 AM HST
- Where
- Molokai forecast zone
High Surf, Oahu
- When
- April 2, 12:00 AM HST to April 4, 5:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu forecast zone
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
- High Wind in Utah, April 2, 1997
- Flood in North Dakota, April 2 to 5, 1997
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 2, 1997
- High Wind in New Mexico, April 2 to 3, 1997
- Flash Flood in Texas, April 2, 1997
- Flash Flood in Texas, April 2, 1997
- High Wind in California, April 2, 1997
- High Wind in Arizona, April 2 to 3, 1997
- Flash Flooding in Texas, April 2 to 3, 1997
- Flash Flood in Texas, April 2, 1997
- High Wind in California, April 2, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Texas, April 2, 1997
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, April 1997
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: 5626970, 5626971, 5626972, 5626973, 5626974, 5626975.