Hawaii, 2003

High Surf in Hawaii, February 24 to 26, 2003

February 24 to 26, 2003 · NWS HFO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A storm low far northwest of Hawaii caused surf of 10 to 15 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of all the islands. No serious property damage or injuries were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 Hawaii caused surf of 10 to 15 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of all the islands. No serious property damage or injuries 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 Feb 23, 10:00 AM HST, 21 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 23, 10:00 AM HST, 21 hours before
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
10 AM HST SUN FEB 23 2003

SUMMARY...BREEZY TRADE WIND WEATHER IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK. SKIES
WILL BE CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY...AND ONLY A FEW NIGHT AND MORNING
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED OVER WINDWARD AND MAUKA SECTIONS.

DISCUSSION...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS FORECAST TO BE OVER HAWAII THIS
WEEK. SUBSIDENCE WITH THE RIDGE WILL KEEP THE MARINE LAYER AT A
MANAGEABLE 5 TO 6 THOUSAND FEET. THERE WILL BE THE USUAL TRADE
SHOWER OR TWO...BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE WILL BE DRY.

THE STORM TRACK THIS WEEK WILL BE FROM JAPAN NORTHEASTWARD INTO THE
BERING SEA OR THE GULF OF ALASKA. A SURFACE HIGH TO THE NORTHEAST
AND A SURFACE RIDGE TO THE NORTH OF HAWAII WILL BE LITTLE AFFECTED
BY THE LOWS. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT SOUTH OF THE HIGH AND RIDGE WILL
BE STEEP ENOUGH TO GIVE US MODERATE TO FRESH TRADE WINDS THIS WEEK
AND NEXT WEEK. CRAIG.

.HFO...WATCHES......NONE
.      WARNINGS.....NONE
.      ADVISORIES...HIGH SURF NORTHWEST SHORES KAUAI OAHU MAUI
.                   AND MOLOKAI WAS CANCELED AT 7 AM

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
February 24, 7:00 AM HST to February 26, 12:00 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
February 24, 7:00 AM HST to February 26, 12:00 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
February 24, 7:00 AM HST to February 26, 12:00 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
February 24, 7:00 AM HST to February 26, 12:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Oahu

When
February 24, 7:00 AM HST to February 26, 12:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
February 24, 7:00 AM HST to February 26, 12:00 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 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, February 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: 5328991, 5328992, 5328993, 5328994, 5328995, 5328996.