Hawaii, 2001

High Wind in Hawaii, December 2 to 3, 2001

December 2 to 3, 2001 · NWS HFO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A strong surface high north of the islands produced northeast to east winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts to 50 mph, across the state. The winds were strong enough to knock down some trees and power lines on the individual islands and blow the roofs off several structures.

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.

A strong surface high north of the islands produced northeast to east winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts to 50 mph, across the state. The winds were strong enough to knock down some trees and power lines on the individual islands and blow the roofs off several structures. However, no serious injuries were reported.

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 2, 4:58 AM HST, 4 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 2, 4:58 AM HST, 4 hours 17 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES A WEAK CIRCULATION JUST TO THE NORTHEAST
OF THE ISLAND MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHWEST.  THIS FEATURE WILL LIKELY
REACH THE ISLAND LATE TODAY WITH SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO HOW MUCH IN
THE WAY OF RAINFALL WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VERY WEAK
CIRCULATION.

AS A RESULT...EXPECT NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 15 KTS TODAY
AND BECOMING VARIABLE IF THIS CIRCULATION BEGINS TO AFFECT THE WIND
DIRECTION.  THE SKY SHOULD REMAIN PARTLY CLOUDY WITH ONLY A CHANCE
FOR SHOWERS OR ANY TSTM DEVELOPMENT.

IN ADDITION... A STRONG NORTHWEST SWELL WILL LIKELY REACH THE
ISLAND TUESDAY AFTERNOON REACHING AROUND 9 FEET.

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 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM 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 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM 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 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM 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 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, North and East Hawaii Including Windward Kohala / Hamakua / Hilo / Puna

When
December 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM HST
Where
North and East Hawaii Including Windward Kohala / Hamakua / Hilo / Puna 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 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, South Hawaii Including Kau

When
December 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM HST
Where
South Hawaii Including Kau forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, West Hawaii Including Leeward Kohala and Kona

When
December 2, 9:15 AM HST to December 3, 4:00 PM HST
Where
West Hawaii Including Leeward Kohala and Kona 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: 5275682, 5275683, 5275684, 5275685, 5275686, 5275687, 5275688, 5275689.