Hawaii, 2003

High Surf in Hawaii, November 10 to 17, 2003

November 10 to 17, 2003 · NWS HFO · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A trade wind swell generated surf of 6 to 10 feet, with occasional sets near 15 feet, along the east-facing shores of Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii. 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 trade wind swell generated surf of 6 to 10 feet, with occasional sets near 15 feet, along the east-facing shores of Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii. 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 Nov 10, 4:40 AM HST, 4 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 10, 4:40 AM HST, 4 hours 20 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

THE TAIL END OF AN OLD FRONT WILL DELIVER A FEW MORE SHOWERS THIS
MORNING BUT WEATHER IS LIKELY TO REMAIN MOSTLY FAIR FOR THE
REMAINDER OF TODAY AND WEDNESDAY.  THE SURFACE RIDGE STILL REMAINS
ABOUT 600 NM AND TRADE WINDS WILL CONTINUE IN THE 20 TO 25 MPH RANGE
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NO SIGNIFICANT SWELL.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
November 10, 9:00 AM HST to November 17, 2:00 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, North and East Hawaii Including Windward Kohala / Hamakua / Hilo / Puna

When
November 10, 9:00 AM HST to November 17, 2:00 PM HST
Where
North and East Hawaii Including Windward Kohala / Hamakua / Hilo / Puna forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, South Hawaii Including Kau

When
November 10, 9:00 AM HST to November 17, 2:00 PM HST
Where
South Hawaii Including Kau 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

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, November 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: 5327806, 5327807, 5327808.