High Surf, Kauai
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM HST to February 10, 8:00 AM 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 in Hawaii, February 9 to 10, 2002
A storm low far north of the state generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the north-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. There were no reports of serious property damage or injuries.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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 far north of the state generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the north-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. There were no reports of serious property damage or injuries.
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 Feb 9, 4:59 AM HST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 9, 4:59 AM HST, 1 hour 1 minute before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND MAINLY CLEAR SKIES ARE FOUND OVER WAKE EARLY THIS MORNING DUE TO A SURFACE RIDGE JUST TO YOUR SOUTH. A NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST ORIENTED COLD FRONT HAS STALLED ABOUT 300 MILES TO YOUR NORTHWEST. SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AROUND 10 KNOTS FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. LOOK FOR FAIR WEATHER TO CONTINUE. NO SIGNIFICANT SWELL IS ANTICIPATED.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
3 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
High Surf, Molokai
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM HST to February 10, 8:00 AM HST
- Where
- Molokai forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Oahu
- When
- February 9, 6:00 AM HST to February 10, 8:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
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
- Wildfire and Dust Storm in California, February 9 to 13, 2002
- High Wind in California, February 9 to 10, 2002
- High Wind in California, February 9 to 10, 2002
- High Wind in Kansas, February 9, 2002
- Rip Current in Guam, February 9, 2002
- High Wind in Nebraska, February 9 to 10, 2002
- Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 9 to 10, 2002
- Winter Storm in Kansas, February 9, 2002
- Winter Storm in Minnesota, February 9 to 10, 2002
- High Wind in Nebraska, February 9, 2002
- Winter Storm in Kansas, February 9, 2002
- High Wind in Colorado, February 9, 2002
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, February 2002
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: 5281075, 5281076, 5281077.