Hawaii, 2023

High Surf in Hawaii, November 19 to 21, 2023

November 19 to 21, 2023 · NWS HFO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A large northwest swell brought waves up to twenty five feet to north facing shores of Kauai, Oahu and Molokai. The swell also brought waves up to fifteen feet for west facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
8

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 northwest swell brought waves up to twenty five feet to north facing shores of Kauai, Oahu and Molokai. The swell also brought waves up to fifteen feet for west facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. These large breaking waves created hazardous conditions for maritime and recreational ocean activities.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Oahu North Shore

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Oahu North Shore forecast zone
Reported by
Lifeguard
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kauai North

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Kauai North forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai North

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Molokai North forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai Windward

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Molokai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Maui Windward West

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Maui Windward West forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Maui Central Valley North

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Maui Central Valley North forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Windward Haleakala

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Windward Haleakala forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Niihau

When
November 19, 3:30 PM HST to November 21, 3:46 AM HST
Where
Niihau forecast zone
Reported by
Lifeguard
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (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

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, November 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: 1143755, 1143758, 1143759, 1143760, 1143761, 1143762, 1143763, 1144647.