Hawaii, 2001

High Wind in Hawaii, December 11 to 14, 2001

December 11 to 14, 2001 · NWS HFO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

The combination of a strong surface high northeast of the islands and an upper low passing south of the Hawaii generated northeast to east winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts to 55 mph, statewide. Trees and power lines were felled in the state, especially in Maui and on Oahu.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

The combination of a strong surface high northeast of the islands and an upper low passing south of the Hawaii generated northeast to east winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts to 55 mph, statewide. Trees and power lines were felled in the state, especially in Maui and on Oahu. Also in Maui, police said the strong winds contributed to the death of a motorcyclist who was riding on Honoapiilani Highway near Maalaea Harbor on the afternoon of the 13th. The strong winds blew off roof shingles at the King Kekaulike High School in Maui as well, forcing administrators to close the school early on the 13th.

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 Dec 11, 4:02 PM HST, 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 11, 4:02 PM HST, 58 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR AMERICAN SAMOA AND THE INDEPENDENT
STATE OF SAMOA

TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...
SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES A WEAK CONVERGENCE ZONE JUST SOUTH OF
THE ISLANDS PROVIDING THE FOCUS FOR SOME SHOWERS AND A FEW ISOLATED
MODERATE TSTMS.  IN ADDITION... A WEAK LOW JUST NORTH OF FIJI
CONTINUES TO DRIFT SLOWLY SOUTH. LITTLE CHANGE IS LIKELY OVER THE
NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. WINDS WILL LIKELY REMAIN VARIABLE AS WELL BUT
PRIMARILY OUT OF THE EAST AROUND 10 KTS.

AS A RESULT...EXPECT A PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY WITH A CHANCE FOR
SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY AN ISOLATED MODERATE TSTM THRU AT LEAST
WEDNESDAY.

NO SIGNIFICANT SWELL EXPECTED THRU TONIGHT ALTHO A SOUTHEAST SWELL
AROUND 9 FT SHOULD REACH THE ISLANDS BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

OUTLOOK FOR FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...
A WEAK CONVERGENCE BAND WILL REMAIN NEAR THE ISLANDS THROUGH THE
PERIOD. SO EXPECT A PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY WITH ISOLATED
SHOWERS.

NARRATIVE DISCUSSION FOR TUVALU

TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY...TUVALU TIME...
SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES A WEAK CONVERGENCE ZONE MOVING OVER
TUVALU PROVIDING THE FOCUS FOR SOME SHOWERS AND A FEW ISOLATED
MODERATE TSTMS.  LITTLE CHANGE IS LIKELY OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36
HOURS. WINDS WILL LIKELY REMAIN VARIABLE AS WELL BUT PRIMARILY OUT
OF THE NORTHWEST IN RESPONSE TO A WEAK LOW JUST NORTH OF FIJI THAT
IS DRIFTING SOUTH.

AS A RESULT...EXPECT A MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS
AS WELL AS A FEW MODERATE TSTMS.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Kauai

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
Kauai forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lanai

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
Lanai forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Maui

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
Maui forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Molokai

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, North and East Hawaii

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
North and East Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Oahu

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, South Hawaii

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
South Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, West Hawaii

When
December 11, 5:00 PM HST to December 14, 10:00 AM HST
Where
West Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, December 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: 5275696, 5275697, 5275698, 5275699, 5275700, 5275701, 5275702, 5275703.