High Surf, Kauai
- When
- March 12, 7:00 AM HST to 8:00 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 in Hawaii, March 12, 2002
A storm low far northwest of the state generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of the Garden Isle of Kauai. However, no serious injuries or property damage were reported.
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
- 1
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 northwest of the state generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of the Garden Isle of Kauai. However, no serious injuries or property damage 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 Mar 12, 4:45 AM HST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 12, 4:45 AM HST, 2 hours 15 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND NOT MUCH CHANGE IS IN STORE FOR YOUR WEATHER OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. AN EAST TO WEST SURFACE RIDGE TO YOUR NORTH WILL MAINTAIN EASTERLY TRADE WINDS AT 10 KNOTS OVER WAKE. THERE ARE ONLY SCATTERED LOW CLOUDS IN YOUR AREA. YOUR WEATHER WILL REMAIN PARTLY CLOUDY AND DRY. A NORTHWEST SWELL...NEAR 5 FEET THIS MORNING...WILL SLOWLY DECREASE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
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
- Avalanche in Idaho, March 12, 2002
- Lightning Strike in Louisiana, March 12, 2002
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 12, 2002
- Damaging Winds in Georgia, March 12, 2002
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 12, 2002
- Damaging Wind in Florida, March 12, 2002
- Dense Fog in Oklahoma, March 12, 2002
- High Surf in California, March 12, 2002
- Hail in Mississippi, March 12, 2002
- Hail in Georgia, March 12, 2002
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, March 12 to 13, 2002
- Hail in Texas, March 12, 2002
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, March 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: 5287333.