Hawaii, 2010

High Surf in Hawaii, January 24, 2010

January 24, 2010 · NWS HFO · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A swell from a low far northwest of the islands caused surf of 10 to 15 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai; and 10 to 15 feet along the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. No serious injuries or property damage were reported.

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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 a low far northwest of the islands caused surf of 10 to 15 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai; and 10 to 15 feet along the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. No serious injuries or property damage were reported.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Niihau

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 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
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 PM HST
Where
Kauai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

High Surf, Kauai Leeward

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 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, Oahu North Shore

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 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, Oahu Koolau

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu Koolau forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

High Surf, Molokai Windward

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

High Surf, Molokai Leeward

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai Leeward forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

High Surf, Maui Windward West

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 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
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 PM HST
Where
Maui Central Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

High Surf, Windward Haleakala

When
January 24, 5:00 AM HST to 3:00 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 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 205064, 205065, 205066, 205067, 205068, 205069, 205070, 205071, 205072, 205073.