High Surf, Niihau
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Niihau forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf in Hawaii, January 20 to 24, 2020
A large swell from the northwest generated surf of 15 to 25 feet, with sets as high as 35 feet, along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and along the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; and 10 to 20 feet along the west-facing shores of Oahu and Molokai. There were no reports of significant property damage or injuries.
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
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 large swell from the northwest generated surf of 15 to 25 feet, with sets as high as 35 feet, along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and along the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; and 10 to 20 feet along the west-facing shores of Oahu and Molokai. There were no reports of significant property damage or injuries.
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
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Kauai Windward forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
High Surf, Kauai Leeward
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Kauai Leeward forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Waianae Coast
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Waianae Coast forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Oahu North Shore
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Oahu North Shore forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Oahu Koolau
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Oahu Koolau forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
High Surf, Olomana
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Olomana forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Molokai Windward
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Molokai Windward forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
High Surf, Molokai Leeward
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Molokai Leeward forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
High Surf, Maui Windward West
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Maui Windward West forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
- Coordinates
- 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Surf, Maui Central Valley
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Maui Central Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
High Surf, Windward Haleakala
- When
- January 20, 6:00 AM HST to January 24, 2:00 PM HST
- Where
- Windward Haleakala forecast zone
- Reported by
- Official NWS Observations
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 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 2020
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: 867478, 867479, 867480, 867481, 867482, 867483, 867484, 867485, 867486, 867487, 867488, 867489.