Hawaii, 2016

High Surf in Hawaii, October 25 to 26, 2016

October 25 to 26, 2016 · NWS HFO · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A long-period west-northwest swell generate surf of 10 to 18 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and the north-facing shores of Oahu. No significant property damage or injuries were reported.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 long-period west-northwest swell generate surf of 10 to 18 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and the north-facing shores of Oahu. No significant property damage or injuries 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

5 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Niihau

When
October 25, 10:00 AM HST to October 26, 9:00 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, Kauai Windward

When
October 25, 10:00 AM HST to October 26, 9:00 AM HST
Where
Kauai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

High Surf, Kauai Leeward

When
October 25, 10:00 AM HST to October 26, 9:00 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, Oahu North Shore

When
October 25, 10:00 AM HST to October 26, 9:00 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 Koolau

When
October 25, 10:00 AM HST to October 26, 9:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu Koolau 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 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, October 2016

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: 659542, 659543, 659544, 659545, 659546.