Hawaii, 2003

High Surf in Hawaii, March 13 to 14, 2003

March 13 to 14, 2003 · NWS HFO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A storm low far northwest of the state generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the northwest-facing shores Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Maui; and 5 to 10 feet along the west- and northwest-facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. However, 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 the state generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the northwest-facing shores Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Maui; and 5 to 10 feet along the west- and northwest-facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. However, 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 Mar 13, 4:59 AM HST, 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 13, 4:59 AM HST, 1 minute before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

...A HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL.

SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS WAKE ISLAND IS NEAR THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF A
250 MILE WIDE BAND OF BROKEN TO OVERCAST LOW CLOUDS. THIS CLOUD BAND
IS ASSOCIATED WITH A NEARLY STATIONARY SHEAR LINE. THERE IS ANOTHER
CLOUD BAND 50 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WAKE THAT IS NEARLY STATIONARY.
EXPECT MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS...AND
NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 15 KNOTS WITH OCCASIONAL HIGHER GUSTS. SINCE
WAKE WILL BE ON THE FRINGES OF TWO CLOUD BANDS...THERE WILL BE
OCCASIONAL PERIODS OF SUN.

A NORTHWEST SWELL OF 9 FEET IS EXPECTED TODAY. PLEASE SEE GUAM HIGH
SURF ADVISORIES FOR DETAILS.

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
March 13, 5:00 AM HST to March 14, 4:00 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
March 13, 5:00 AM HST to March 14, 4:00 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
March 13, 5:00 AM HST to March 14, 4:00 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
March 13, 5:00 AM HST to March 14, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Oahu

When
March 13, 5:00 AM HST to March 14, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
March 13, 5:00 AM HST to March 14, 4:00 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, March 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: 5329312, 5329313, 5329314, 5329315, 5329316, 5329317.