High Surf in Hawaii, April 13 to 15, 2001

Name: High Surf in Hawaii, April 13 to 15, 2001
Start: 2001-04-13T04:00
End: 2001-04-15T18:00
Location: Hawaii

April 13 to 15, 2001 · NWS HFO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A storm low east of New Zealand caused surf of 6 to 10 feet along the south shores of all 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

Open the live radar over this ground

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 storm low east of New Zealand caused surf of 6 to 10 feet along the south shores of all the islands.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Honolulu, HI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 13, 4:00 AM HST, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 4:00 AM HST, 0 minutes before

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
4 AM HST FRI APR 13 2001

SUMMARY...THE STRONG AND GUSTY TRADE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TWO MORE
DAYS THEN SLACKEN SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. ISOLATED TRADE SHOWERS
WILL COME AND GO MAINLY AT NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING WITH SOME DRYING
OVER THE WEEKEND.

DISCUSSION...NO CHANGES IN THE OVERALL GAME PLAN. MODELS KEEP THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT SOUTH OF THE NORTH PACIFIC SUBTROPICAL HIGH AND
RIDGE TIGHT ENOUGH TO SUPPORT MODERATE TO BRISK TRADE WINDS TODAY
AND SATURDAY. THEY THEN MOVE A DEEPENING LOW FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA
SOUTHWARD MORE OR LESS ALONG 140W. THE LOW WILL WEAKEN THE HIGH
NORTHEAST OF HERE RESULTING IN LIGHTER WINDS THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT
WEEK. THE WINDS WHICH WILL BE MORE OUT OF THE NORTHEAST WILL BRING
DRYER AND SLIGHTLY COOLER AIR TO THE STATE. THE LOW IS FORECAST TO
EXIT TO THE NORTHEAST THE LATTER HALF OF NEXT WEEK ALLOWING A
SURFACE HIGH TO BUILD NORTH OF THE ISLANDS AND THE TRADES TO RETURN.

SURF...IN ADDITION TO THE TRADE WIND SWELL...A SOUTH SWELL WILL
ARRIVE LATE TODAY AND LAST INTO THE WEEKEND. ALSO...THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY THAT THE LOW DROPPING DOWN FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL
SEND A NORTHEAST SWELL IN OUR DIRECTION NEXT WEEK. IN ADDITION TO
SURF...A NORTHEAST SWELL CAN CAUSE HARBOR SURGE IN NORTH FACING
HARBORS LIKE KAHULUI AND HILO HARBORS. CRAIG.

.PHFO.....WARNINGSl.....GALE IN ALENUIHAHA CHANNEL
.         WATCHES......NONE
.         ADVISORIES...HIGH SURF EAST FACING SHORES
.                   ...SMALL CRAFT ALL WATERS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When: April 13, 4:00 AM HST to April 15, 6:00 PM 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: April 13, 4:00 AM HST to April 15, 6:00 PM 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: April 13, 4:00 AM HST to April 15, 6:00 PM 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: April 13, 4:00 AM HST to April 15, 6:00 PM HST
Where: Molokai forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When: April 13, 4:00 AM HST to April 15, 6:00 PM 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: April 13, 4:00 AM HST to April 15, 6:00 PM HST
Where: Oahu forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, South Hawaii

When: April 13, 4:00 AM HST to April 15, 6:00 PM HST
Where: South Hawaii forecast zone
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

Every storm in Hawaii in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Hawaii, April 2001

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: 5242133, 5242222, 5242223, 5242224, 5242225, 5242226, 5242227.