High Surf in Hawaii, January 11 to 13, 2023

Name: High Surf in Hawaii, January 11 to 13, 2023
Start: 2023-01-11T00:00
End: 2023-01-13T03:33
Location: Hawaii

January 11 to 13, 2023 · NWS HFO · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

An extra-large northwest swell (320-340 degrees) pushed across the island chain during the event. This generated surf of 25 to 35 feet along north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, north facing shores of Maui.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.

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 10, 9:54 AM HST, 14 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 10, 9:54 AM HST, 14 hours 6 minutes 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 Southwest

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Kauai Southwest forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Wainae Mountains

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Wainae Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Oahu North Shore

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Oahu North Shore forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Maui Windward West

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Maui Windward West forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai Windward

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Molokai Windward forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai North

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Molokai North forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai West

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Molokai West forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Maui Central Valley North

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Maui Central Valley North forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Windward Haleakala

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Windward Haleakala forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kauai North

When: January 11, 12:00 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Kauai North forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kona

When: January 11, 3:26 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Kona forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kohala

When: January 11, 3:26 AM HST to January 13, 3:33 AM HST
Where: Kohala forecast zone
Reported by: Buoy
Coordinates: 19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Hawaii, January 2023

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: 1072883, 1072884, 1072885, 1072886, 1072887, 1072888, 1072889, 1072890, 1072891, 1072892, 1072893, 1072894.