High Surf, Island of Hawaii
- When
- November 8, 6:00 PM HST to November 13, 6:00 AM HST
- Where
- Island of Hawaii forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf in Hawaii, November 8 to 13, 1998
Storm low far northwest of Hawaii generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along north and west shores of all the islands. All north shore beaches were closed on 11 Nov, and all but Waimea were closed on 12 Nov, due to the high surf.
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
- 2
- 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.
Storm low far northwest of Hawaii generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along north and west shores of all the islands. All north shore beaches were closed on 11 Nov, and all but Waimea were closed on 12 Nov, due to the high surf. More than 20 surfers and other beachgoers had been rescued by lifeguards before beaches were closed on the 11th. Two people were slightly injured on Oahu's north shore due to high surf on the 8th.
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
- November 8, 6:00 PM HST to November 13, 6:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Lanai
- When
- November 8, 6:00 PM HST to November 13, 6:00 AM HST
- Where
- Lanai forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Maui
- When
- November 8, 6:00 PM HST to November 13, 6:00 AM HST
- Where
- Maui forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Molokai
- When
- November 8, 6:00 PM HST to November 13, 6:00 AM HST
- Where
- Molokai forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Oahu
- When
- November 8, 6:00 PM HST to November 13, 6:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu forecast zone
- Injuries
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
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
- Winter Storm in Utah, November 8 to 10, 1998
- Winter Storm in Colorado, November 8 to 9, 1998
- Dust Storm in California, November 8, 1998
- Winter Storm in Colorado, November 8 to 9, 1998
- Winter Storm in South Dakota, November 8 to 10, 1998
- Avalanche in Colorado, November 8, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Wyoming, November 8, 1998
- Sleet in North Carolina, November 8, 1998
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, November 8, 1998
- Flood and Heavy Rain in California, November 8, 1998
- Dense Fog in South Carolina, November 8 to 9, 1998
- Dense Fog in North Carolina, November 8 to 9, 1998
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, November 1998
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: 5675262, 5675263, 5675264, 5675265, 5675266, 5675267.