High Surf, Island of Hawaii
- When
- February 12, 11:00 PM HST to February 15, 8:00 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, February 12 to 15, 1997
A storm low far northwest of the Hawaiian Islands generated swell that produced surf of 15 to 20 feet with occasional sets to 25 feet along the north shores and surf of 10 to 15 feet along the west shores of the islands. , surf up to 25 feet claimed the life of a professional surfer at Alligator Rock located between Waimea Bay and Chun's Reef on Oahu's North Shore.
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
- 1
- 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 northwest of the Hawaiian Islands generated swell that produced surf of 15 to 20 feet with occasional sets to 25 feet along the north shores and surf of 10 to 15 feet along the west shores of the islands. On the 13th, at approximately 11:30 a.m., surf up to 25 feet claimed the life of a professional surfer at Alligator Rock located between Waimea Bay and Chun's Reef on Oahu's North Shore. Lifeguards assisted over 30 people in distress near Oahu's shores on the 13th.
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
- February 12, 11:00 PM HST to February 15, 8:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Lanai
- When
- February 12, 11:00 PM HST to February 15, 8:00 AM HST
- Where
- Lanai forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Maui
- When
- February 12, 11:00 PM HST to February 15, 8:00 AM HST
- Where
- Maui forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Molokai
- When
- February 12, 11:00 PM HST to February 15, 8:00 AM HST
- Where
- Molokai forecast zone
High Surf, Oahu
- When
- February 12, 11:00 PM HST to February 15, 8:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Surf, Oahu | 1997-02-13 | 28 | Male | In Water | Direct |
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 Surf in Washington, February 12, 1997
- Tornado in Texas, February 12, 1997
- Flash Flood in Texas, February 12, 1997
- Heavy Rain in Texas, February 12 to 13, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Utah, February 12, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 12 to 13, 1997
- Flooding in Texas, February 12 to 28, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Texas, February 12, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 12 to 13, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 12, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Texas, February 12 to 13, 1997
- Flood in Hawaii, February 12, 1997
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, February 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: 5626825, 5626826, 5626827, 5626828, 5626829, 5626830.