Hawaii, 2001

High Surf in Hawaii, March 17 to 18, 2001

March 17 to 18, 2001 · NWS HFO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A deep low well northwest of the state generated surf of 12 to 16 feet along the north and northwest 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

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 deep low well northwest of the state generated surf of 12 to 16 feet along the north and northwest 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 Mar 17, 4:40 AM HST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 17, 4:40 AM HST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

CLEARING HAS FINALLY OCCURRED OVER YOUR ISLAND...THOUGH SATELLITE
IMAGERY SHOWS AMPLE CLOUDINESS IN YOUR VICINITY. EXPECT THESE CLOUDS
TO AFFECT YOUR DISTRICT THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. THUS LOOK FOR
PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH A FEW SHOWERS THROUGH THE 48 HOURS.. A HIGH
PRESSURE SYSTEM FAR NORTH OF YOUR ISLAND WILL BRING LIGHT TO
MODERATE TRADEWINDS OVER YOUR AREA. LOOK FOR EAST WINDS 10 TO 20 KT
THROUGH THE PERIOD. SLIGHT NORTH AND EAST SWELLS 2 TO 4 FEET ARE
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
March 17, 6:00 AM HST to March 18, 10:00 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
March 17, 6:00 AM HST to March 18, 10:00 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
March 17, 6:00 AM HST to March 18, 10:00 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
March 17, 6:00 AM HST to March 18, 10:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
March 17, 6:00 AM HST to March 18, 10:00 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
March 17, 6:00 AM HST to March 18, 10:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
March 17, 6:00 AM HST to March 18, 10:00 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, March 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: 5235504, 5235505, 5235506, 5235507, 5235508, 5235509, 5235510.