Hawaii, 2001

High Surf in Hawaii, January 31, 2001

January 31, 2001 · NWS HFO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

An intense storm low well northwest of the state generated surf of 15 to 18 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores and 6 to 10 feet along the west-facing shores of all the islands.

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
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.

An intense storm low well northwest of the state generated surf of 15 to 18 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores and 6 to 10 feet along the west-facing 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 Jan 31, 4:57 AM HST, 4 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 4:57 AM HST, 4 hours 3 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

A SURFACE RIDGE NORTH OF WAKE WILL MAINTAIN EAST NORTHEAST WINDS OF
10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER WAKE. WEATHER WILL BE MOSTLY FAIR WITH BRIEF
CLOUDY PERIODS BUT F	EW...IF ANY...SHOWERS DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF
THE RIDGE.  THE FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST IS NOT EXPECTED
TO PUSH FAR ENOUGH SOUTH TO REACH WAKE.  NO SIGNIFICANT SWELL
EXPECTED.

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
January 31, 9:00 AM HST to 11:59 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
January 31, 9:00 AM HST to 11:59 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
January 31, 9:00 AM HST to 11:59 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
January 31, 9:00 AM HST to 11:59 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
January 31, 9:00 AM HST to 11:59 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
January 31, 9:00 AM HST to 11:59 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
January 31, 9:00 AM HST to 11:59 PM 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

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 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: 5227604, 5227605, 5227606, 5227607, 5227608, 5227609, 5227610.