Hawaii, 2002

High Surf in Hawaii, November 25 to 27, 2002

November 25 to 27, 2002 · NWS HFO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A deep storm low far northwest of the state caused surf of 15 to 30 feet along the west- clockwise through north-facing shores of all the Hawaiian Islands. The dangerous surf led to the closure of a few beaches on Kauai and Oahu, but there were no reports of serious property damage or injuries.

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 storm low far northwest of the state caused surf of 15 to 30 feet along the west- clockwise through north-facing shores of all the Hawaiian Islands. The dangerous surf led to the closure of a few beaches on Kauai and Oahu, but 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 Nov 25, 4:49 AM HST, 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 25, 4:49 AM HST, 11 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED NORTHEAST OF WAKE PRODUCED A WIND
FROM THE EAST SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS ACROSS THE ISLAND. SMALL
CUMULUS CLOUDS DRIFTING ALONG WITH THE WIND GAVE THE ISLAND PARTLY
CLOUDY SKIES WITH ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS. EXPECT LITTLE CHANGE
THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. SWELL FROM THE NORTH TO NORTHEAST WILL
INCREASE TO 10 TO 13 FEET THROUGH THE PERIOD.

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
November 25, 5:00 AM HST to November 27, 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, Lanai

When
November 25, 5:00 AM HST to November 27, 8:00 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
November 25, 5:00 AM HST to November 27, 8:00 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
November 25, 5:00 AM HST to November 27, 8:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
November 25, 5:00 AM HST to November 27, 8:00 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
November 25, 5:00 AM HST to November 27, 8:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
November 25, 5:00 AM HST to November 27, 8:00 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 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, November 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: 5325195, 5325196, 5325197, 5325198, 5325199, 5325200, 5325201.