High Surf in Hawaii, February 15 to 17, 1997

Name: High Surf in Hawaii, February 15 to 17, 1997
Start: 1997-02-15T17:00
End: 1997-02-17T05:00
Location: Hawaii

February 15 to 17, 1997 · NWS HFO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A storm low in the northwest Pacific generated swell that produced surf of 12 to 16 feet along north shores and surf of 5 to 10 feet along west shores of the islands.

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

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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 in the northwest Pacific generated swell that produced surf of 12 to 16 feet along north shores and surf of 5 to 10 feet along west shores of the islands.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Oahu

When: February 15, 5:00 PM HST to February 17, 5:00 AM HST
Where: Oahu forecast zone

High Surf, Island of Hawaii

When: February 15, 5:00 PM HST to February 17, 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, Kauai

When: February 15, 5:00 PM HST to February 17, 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: February 15, 5:00 PM HST to February 17, 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: February 15, 5:00 PM HST to February 17, 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: February 15, 5:00 PM HST to February 17, 5:00 AM HST
Where: Molokai 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

Every storm in Hawaii in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5626157, 5626831, 5626832, 5626833, 5626834, 5626835.