Hawaii, 2001

High Surf in Hawaii, July 10 to 13, 2001

July 10 to 13, 2001 · NWS HFO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A storm low in the Southern Hemisphere, in combination with a trade wind swell, generated surf of 6 to 10 feet along the east- and south-facing shores of all the Hawaiian 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
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 storm low in the Southern Hemisphere, in combination with a trade wind swell, generated surf of 6 to 10 feet along the east- and south-facing shores of all the Hawaiian 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 Jul 10, 4:58 AM HST, 4 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 10, 4:58 AM HST, 4 hours 2 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

THE AIR MASS OVER WAKE WILL REMAIN JUICY AND FAVORABLE FOR MORE
SHOWERS THROUGH TOMORROW. WAKE LIES NEAR A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE
THAT EXTENDS FROM A LOW NEAR GUAM TO THE WAKE ISLAND AREA THEN
NORTHEASTWARD TO NEAR MIDWAY. WITH THE TROUGH STAYING TO YOUR
NORTH...THE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL PERSIST THROUGH TOMORROW IN THE
LIGHT TO MODERATE RANGE. THE WINDS CAN BE STRONG AND GUSTY IN OR IN
THE VICINITY OF THE HEAVIER SHOWERS/THUNDERSHOWERS.

SATELLITE IMAGERY UP TIL 1200 UTC SHOWS A FRESH LINE OF WIDELY
SCATTERED SHOWERS/THUNDERSHOWERS INCREASING ALONG THIS TROUGH. THE
BULK OF THE ACTIVITY IS OFF YOUR NORTHWEST.

NO SIGNIFICANT $SWELL WILL AFFECT WAKE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

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 surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 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
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 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
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 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
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 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
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, South Hawaii

When
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 PM HST
Where
South Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
July 10, 9:00 AM HST to July 13, 12:00 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, July 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: 5259807, 5259808, 5259809, 5259810, 5259811, 5259812, 5259813, 5259814.