High Surf in Hawaii, April 16 to 17, 2010

Name: High Surf in Hawaii, April 16 to 17, 2010
Start: 2010-04-16T19:00
End: 2010-04-17T22:00
Location: Hawaii

April 16 to 17, 2010 · NWS HFO · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

A swell from a low north-northeast of the state produced surf of 6 to 8 feet along the east-facing shores of all the isles except Lanai. There were no reports of significant property damage or injuries.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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: 9

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.

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 Apr 16, 4:00 PM HST, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 16, 4:00 PM HST, 3 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
400 PM HST FRI APR 16 2010

.SYNOPSIS...
A WEAKENING FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE ISLANDS
BRINGING WITH IT SOME LIGHT PASSING SHOWERS THAT WILL MAINLY AFFECT
MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND OVERNIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN NORTH
OF THE STATE WITH WINDS GRADUALLY BECOMING TRADES. IT WILL BE RATHER
COOL FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH A GRADUAL WARM UP EXPECTED
NEXT WEEK. AS THE TRADES FILL IN...CLOUDS AND SHOWERS WILL FAVOR
WINDWARD AND MAUKA AREAS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A SHALLOW COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE SOUTHWARD DOWN THE ISLAND
CHAIN. IT IS PRESENTLY OVER MAUI COUNTY AND IS SHOWING SIGNS OF
BREAKING UP. THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH MAUI COUNTY
AND THE BIG ISLAND OVERNIGHT IN A MUCH WEAKENED STATE. THE FRONT
IS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LIGHT PASSING SHOWERS WITH THE GREATEST
CHANCE OF SHOWERS OCCURRING OVER NORTH AND NORTHEAST FACING SLOPES.
IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT IS A COOL AND DRY AIRMASS WITH RATHER
BREEZY NORTH WINDS EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY.

HIGH PRESSURE FAR NORTHWEST OF THE STATE WILL GRADUALLY MOVE
EASTWARD WITH THE WINDS SLOWLY SWINGING AROUND TO A MORE EASTERLY
DIRECTION BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL ALSO BE ON THE
INCREASE NEXT WEEK SO SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY RESEMBLE A TYPICAL
WINDWARD AND MAUKA DISTRIBUTION. ALSO SOME MID LEVEL TROUGHING WILL
HELP ENHANCE SHOWERS A BIT ESPECIALLY BY MID WEEK.

MODELS ARE HINTING THAT THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MAY EVENTUALLY INDUCE
A SURFACE TROUGH TO FORM NEAR OR JUST WEST OF THE STATE LATER NEXT
WEEK. THIS WOULD DISRUPT OUR TRADE WIND FLOW. RAINFALL COVERAGE MAY
ALSO INCREASE AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE RISES IN RESPONSE TO DYNAMIC
FORCING AND COOLER AIR ALOFT. MECHANICAL LIFT OVER ISLAND TERRAIN
WOULD FURTHER ENHANCE SHOWER DEVELOPMENT. IT IS TOO EARLY TO
DETERMINE IF HEAVY RAINFALL WILL DEVELOP SHOULD THESE CONDITIONS
ACTUALLY OCCUR LATE NEXT WEEK.

&&

.MARINE...
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS UP FOR ALL HAWAIIAN COASTAL WATERS
DUE TO A COMBINATION OF WINDS AND SEAS. THESE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EAST FACING SHORES DUE TO
THE NEW NORTH NORTHEAST SWELL. SURF SHOULD REMAIN ELEVATED INTO
SATURDAY NIGHT. NOTE THAT THE SURF IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW THE
HIGH SURF ADVISORY THRESHOLD ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES OF THE
ISLANDS BUT WILL STILL BE AT ELEVATED LEVELS. MODERATE HARBOR SURGES
AND LARGE BREAKING WAVES IN HARBOR ENTRANCES MAY DEVELOP TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY AT HILO AND KAHULUI HARBORS.

&&

.HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM HST SUNDAY FOR EAST FACING SHORES OF
NIIHAU KAUAI OAHU MOLOKAI MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH 600 PM HST SATURDAY FOR ALL HAWAIIAN
WATERS.

&&

BURKE

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Niihau

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 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, Kauai Windward

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 PM HST
Where: Kauai Windward forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Oahu Koolau

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 PM HST
Where: Oahu Koolau forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Olomana

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 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, Molokai Windward

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 PM HST
Where: Molokai Windward forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Maui Windward West

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 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, Maui Central Valley

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 PM HST
Where: Maui Central Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Windward Haleakala

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 PM HST
Where: Windward Haleakala forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Surf, Big Island North and East

When: April 16, 7:00 PM HST to April 17, 10:00 PM HST
Where: Big Island North and East 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

Every storm in Hawaii in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Hawaii, April 2010

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: 218656, 218657, 218658, 218659, 218660, 218661, 218662, 218663, 218664.