High Surf, Kauai
- When
- December 21, 6:00 AM HST to December 22, 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, December 21 to 22, 2003
A deep low far northwest of the islands generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. No serious injuries or property damage were reported.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
- 4
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 far northwest of the islands generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. 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 Dec 21, 5:00 AM HST, 1 hour earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 21, 5:00 AM HST, 1 hour before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR WAKE ISLAND... A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS NORTH OF WAKE THIS MORNING...BUT IS BEING DEGRADED BY A COLD FRONT TO THE NORTHWEST. AS THE FRONT MOVES TO THE EAST...IT WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN THE RIDGE TO THE NORTH. EXPECT MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS WILL WEAKEN TO AROUND 10 KNOTS LATER TODAY. LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL EXPECTED. SEE FZPQ70 PGUM...AWIPS ID MWSPQ...FROM GUAM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
4 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
High Surf, Maui
- When
- December 21, 6:00 AM HST to December 22, 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
- December 21, 6:00 AM HST to December 22, 8:00 PM HST
- Where
- Molokai forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Oahu
- When
- December 21, 6:00 AM HST to December 22, 8:00 PM 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
- High Wind in Alaska, December 21 to 22, 2003
- Winter Weather in Colorado, December 21 to 22, 2003
- Frost and Freeze in Florida, December 21, 2003
- Dense Fog in California, December 21, 2003
- Frost and Freeze in Florida, December 21, 2003
- High Wind in Hawaii, December 21, 2003
- Winter Weather in Utah, December 21, 2003
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 21 to 22, 2003
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, December 2003
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: 5327925, 5327926, 5327999, 5328000.