High Surf, Kauai Leeward
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai Leeward forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf in Hawaii, March 1 to 2, 2005
A low northwest of the islands generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Maui; and 6 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu. There were no reports of serious property damage or injuries.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 12
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 northwest of the islands generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Maui; and 6 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu. 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 Mar 1, 4:00 AM HST, 2 hours earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 4:00 AM HST, 2 hours before
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI 400 AM HST TUE MAR 1 2005 .SYNOPSIS... GENERALLY FAIR WEATHER IS EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS EXPECTED OVER WINDWARD AND MAUKA LOCATIONS. A WEAK COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE DOWN THE ISLAND CHAIN THIS WEEKEND GIVING US AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS. DRY WESTERLY FLOW WILL FOLLOW THE FRONT. && .DISCUSSION... SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A DISSIPATING SHEAR LINE ABOUT 250 MILES NORTH OF KAUAI. THE UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT WITH THIS SHEAR LINE IS SEEN MOVING RAPIDLY EASTWARD FAR NORTH NORTHEAST OF THE STATE. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN KEEPING THIS SHEAR LINE NORTH OF THE ISLANDS SINCE UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT TO HELP MOVE THE SHEAR LINE OVER THE ISLANDS WILL BE LACKING. LIGHT TRADE WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH WEDNESDAY SO THE ONLY SHOWERS WOULD BE OF THE WINDWARD AND MAUKA VARIETY. THESE SHOWERS IF ANY WOULD BE LIGHT AND BRIEF. A GRADUAL CHANGE IN OUR WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON THURSDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL BE MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST TOWARD THE ISLANDS. THIS WILL CAUSE THE WINDS TO TURN TO THE SOUTHEAST...FIRST OVER THE NORTHERN ISLANDS AND EVENTUALLY OVER THE SOUTHERN END OF THE CHAIN. AS THE FRONT GETS CLOSER WINDS WILL TURN TO THE SOUTHWEST ...AGAIN DOING THIS FIRST OVER THE NORTHERN ISLANDS. THE LATEST GFS MODEL HAS THE FRONT REACHING KAUAI SATURDAY MORNING. THE FRONT WILL REACH THE BIG ISLAND SUNDAY WHERE IS IS FORECAST TO DISSIPATE. DRY WESTERLY FLOW WILL FOLLOW IN ITS WAKE AS A LARGE LOW TAKES UP RESIDENCY FAR NORTH OF THE STATE PUSHING THE SUB TROPICAL RIDGE TO OUR SOUTH. && .MARINE... SWELLS AT BUOY ONE CONTINUE TO DROP SO THE HIGH SURF ADVISORY WILL BE LOWERED. ANOTHER NORTHWEST SWELL IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE LATE TOMORROW AND IS EXPECTED TO REACH ADVISORY LEVELS ON THURSDAY. A LARGER NORTHWEST SWELL IS EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND THAT MAY REACH WARNING LEVELS. HOWEVER THE WESTERLY WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED FRONT WILL MAKE CONDITIONS RATHER STORMY FOR MOST AREAS EXPOSED TO THIS SWELL. && .HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && BURKE
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
12 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
High Surf, Kauai Windward
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Kauai Windward forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Maui Central Valley
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Maui Central Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Maui Windward West
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Maui Windward West forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Molokai Leeward
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Molokai Leeward forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Molokai Windward
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Molokai Windward forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Niihau
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Niihau forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Oahu Koolau
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu Koolau forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Oahu North Shore
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu North Shore forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Oahu South Shore
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Oahu South Shore forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
High Surf, Waianae Coast
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Waianae Coast forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Windward Haleakala
- When
- March 1, 6:00 AM HST to March 2, 4:00 AM HST
- Where
- Windward Haleakala 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
- Drought in Puerto Rico, March 1 to 31, 2005
- Winter Storm in Ohio, March 1 to 2, 2005
- Winter Storm in Massachusetts, March 1, 2005
- Heavy Snow in New York, March 1, 2005
- Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 1 to 3, 2005
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 1, 2005
- Winter Storm in Vermont, March 1, 2005
- Winter Storm in Vermont, March 1, 2005
- Winter Storm in New York, March 1, 2005
- Heavy Snow in New York, March 1, 2005
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 1 to 2, 2005
- Drought in Colorado, March 1 to 31, 2005
More
Every storm in Hawaii in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, March 2005
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: 5439561, 5439562, 5439563, 5439564, 5439565, 5439566, 5439567, 5439568, 5439569, 5439570, 5439571, 5439572.