Hawaii, 2006

High Surf in Hawaii, January 28, 2006

January 28, 2006 · NWS HFO · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A low northwest of the state generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores, and 8 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores, of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai; and 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores of Maui. No serious injuries or property damage were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
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 state generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores, and 8 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores, of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai; and 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores of Maui. 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 Jan 27, 10:00 AM HST, 21 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 27, 10:00 AM HST, 21 hours before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai Leeward

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM 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, Kauai Windward

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM HST
Where
Kauai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Maui Central Valley

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM HST
Where
Maui Central Valley forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Maui Windward West

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM 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
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai Leeward forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Molokai Windward

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Niihau

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM 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
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu Koolau forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Oahu North Shore

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM 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, Olomana

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM HST
Where
Olomana forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Waianae Coast

When
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM 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
January 28, 7:00 AM HST to 4:00 PM 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

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 2006

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5488412, 5488413, 5488414, 5488415, 5488416, 5488417, 5488418, 5488419, 5488420, 5488421, 5488422, 5488423.