High Surf, Kauai
- When
- December 3, 5:00 PM HST to December 6, 2:00 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 in Hawaii, December 3 to 6, 1999
A deep storm low far northwest of the state generated surf of 20 to 25 feet along north shores and 8 to 15 feet on west shores across the island chain. Fifty people were rescued from the waves by lifeguards on Oahu, with no major injuries reported.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
- 7
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 deep storm low far northwest of the state generated surf of 20 to 25 feet along north shores and 8 to 15 feet on west shores across the island chain. Fifty people were rescued from the waves by lifeguards on Oahu, with no major injuries reported. Also on Oahu, all north-shore beaches, and Keawaula Beach just north of Makaha on the west side, were closed for a time because of the dangerously high surf.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
7 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
High Surf, Lanai
- When
- December 3, 5:00 PM HST to December 6, 2:00 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
- December 3, 5:00 PM HST to December 6, 2:00 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
- December 3, 5:00 PM HST to December 6, 2:00 AM HST
- Where
- Molokai forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, North and East Hawaii
- When
- December 3, 5:00 PM HST to December 6, 2:00 AM HST
- Where
- North and East Hawaii forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Oahu
- When
- December 3, 5:00 PM HST to December 6, 2:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, West Hawaii
- When
- December 3, 5:00 PM HST to December 6, 2:00 AM HST
- Where
- West Hawaii forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (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
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, December 3, 1999
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, December 3 to 4, 1999
- High Wind in California, December 3 to 4, 1999
- Winter Storm in Colorado, December 3 to 4, 1999
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, December 3, 1999
- Dense Fog in Wisconsin, December 3 to 4, 1999
- Hail in Oklahoma, December 3, 1999
- Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 3 to 4, 1999
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 3, 1999
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 3 to 4, 1999
- Dense Fog in Wisconsin, December 3 to 4, 1999
- Dense Fog in Wisconsin, December 3 to 4, 1999
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, December 1999
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: 5720864, 5720865, 5720866, 5720867, 5720868, 5720869, 5720870.