Hawaii, 2004

High Surf in Hawaii, January 5 to 6, 2004

January 5 to 6, 2004 · NWS HFO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A low 800 miles northwest of the state generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the west- and north-facing shores of all the isles except Lanai. There were no reports of serious property damage or injuries.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

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 low 800 miles northwest of the state generated surf of 10 to 20 feet along the west- and north-facing shores of all the isles except Lanai. There were no reports of serious property damage or injuries.

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 Jan 5, 5:00 AM HST, 2 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 5, 5:00 AM HST, 2 hours before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

A WEAK HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE TO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST OVER
THE NEXT 24 HOURS. A COLD FRONT NORTH OF THE RIDGE WILL MOVE
EAST...PUSHING THE HIGH EASTWARD AS WELL. AS A RESULT...LOOK FOR
WINDS TO BECOME MORE EASTERLY AND REMAIN BETWEEN 5 AND 10 KNOTS. NO
MAJOR CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE WEATHER ARE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

NORTH NORTHWEST SWELL OF 4 TO 5 FEET...EAST SWELL AROUND 4 FEET.

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
January 5, 7:00 AM HST to January 6, 9:00 AM 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, Maui

When
January 5, 7:00 AM HST to January 6, 9:00 AM 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
January 5, 7:00 AM HST to January 6, 9:00 AM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
January 5, 7:00 AM HST to January 6, 9:00 AM 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
January 5, 7:00 AM HST to January 6, 9:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
January 5, 7:00 AM HST to January 6, 9:00 AM 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 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 2004

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: 5432244, 5432245, 5432246, 5432247, 5432248, 5432249.