Hawaii, 2003

High Surf in Hawaii, September 1 to 2, 2003

September 1 to 2, 2003 · NWS HFO · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A swell from Tropical Storm Jimena produced surf of 10 to 15 feet along the east- and southeast-facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. There were no reports of serious injuries or property damage.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
2

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 swell from Tropical Storm Jimena produced surf of 10 to 15 feet along the east- and southeast-facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. There were no reports of serious injuries or property damage.

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 Aug 31, 8:30 PM HST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 8:30 PM HST, 3 hours 30 minutes before
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION AND GUIDANCE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
830 PM HST SUN AUG 31 2003

SUMMARY...HURRICANE JIMENA WILL BE PASSING JUST SOUTH OF THE BIG
ISLAND EARLY MONDAY MORNING. IT WILL BRING GUSTY STRONG WIND...HEAVY
RAIN AND AS WELL AS HIGH SURF TO THE BIG ISLAND.

DISCUSSION...JIMENA CONTINUES TO TRACK TOWARDS THE WEST AT ABOUT
17 MPH AND IS EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN ITS COURSE THROUGH THE NEXT
24 HOURS. THE HURRICANE IS ALSO MAINTAINING ITS STRENGTH IN THE PAST
FEW HOURS AND IS EXPECTED TO DO SO IN THE COMING HOURS.

THE CURRENT TRACK STILL TAKES THE CENTER CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THE
UNSETTLED WEATHER TO AFFECT THE BIG ISLAND...AND POSSIBLY MAUI AND
LANAI. THUS A HURRICANE WATCH...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING...A FLASH
FLOOD WATCH AND A HIGH SURF WARNING REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE BIG
ISLAND TONIGHT. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE EAST
AND SOUTHEAST FACING SHORES OF MAUI AND MAY BE EXPANDED TO COVER
REST OF THE ISLANDS LATER. HIGH SURF IS ALREADY AFFECTING THE BIG
ISLAND WITH REPORTS OF 10 TO 12 FEET AT POHIKI AND IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE BUILD OVERNIGHT.

THUS EXPECT CONDITIONS TO DETERIORATE FOR THE BIG ISLAND IN THE
COMING HOURS WITH INCREASING WINDS...RAIN AND SURF.

PREVIOUS PACKAGE HAS THE SITUATION PRETTY WELL COVERED AND REQUIRES
NO UPDATES AT THIS TIME.

.HFO...HURRICANE WATCH AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE BIG
ISLAND AND ADJACENT WATERS. FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE BIG ISLAND.
HIGH SURF WARNING BIG ISLAND. HIGH SURF ADVISORY EAST AND SOUTHEAST
FACING SHORES OF MAUI.

HFO TEAM TONIGHT
PUBLIC...HUI
SATELLITE...HOUSTON
MARINE...WROE
AVIATION...FUJI
CPHC...BALLARD

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, North and East Hawaii Including Windward Kohala / Hamakua / Hilo / Puna

When
September 1, 12:00 AM HST to September 2, 6:00 AM 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
September 1, 12:00 AM HST to September 2, 6:00 AM 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, September 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: 5327718, 5327719.