Hawaii, 2003

High Surf in Hawaii, May 2 to 4, 2003

May 2 to 4, 2003 · NWS HFO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A storm low east of New Zealand generated surf of 5 to 10 feet along the south- and southwest-facing shores of all the Hawaiian Islands. No serious injuries or property damage were reported.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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 east of New Zealand generated surf of 5 to 10 feet along the south- and southwest-facing shores of all the Hawaiian Islands. 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 May 2, 5:00 AM HST, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 2, 5:00 AM HST, 0 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

A SURFACE HIGH 1100 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF WAKE WILL MOVE
EASTWARD...KEEPING NORTHEAST TRADES BLOWING IN THE 15 TO 25 KNOT
RANGE THROUGH TONIGHT.  THE MASSIVE AREA OF STRATOCUMULUS
MOVING THROUGH THE REGION HAS AGAIN BECOME BROKEN DURING THE NIGHT
BUT SHOULD THIN TO SCATTERED CLOUDS AFTER DAYBREAK...FILLING IN
AGAIN TONIGHT.  FEW IF ANY SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED FROM THE STABLE
STRATOCUMULUS.  THE NORTHEAST TRADE SWELL WILL CONTINUE ITS SLOW
DECLINE.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 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
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 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
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 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
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 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
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, South Hawaii

When
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 PM HST
Where
South Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
May 2, 5:00 AM HST to May 4, 7:00 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, May 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: 5327578, 5327579, 5327580, 5327581, 5327582, 5327583, 5327584, 5327585.