Hawaii, 2025

High Surf in Hawaii, November 10 to 12, 2025

November 10 to 12, 2025 · NWS HFO · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A strong trade wind fetch to the east northeast of the islands sent a large easterly swell to east facing shores of the islands. This swell brought surf heights over ten feet.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
1

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 strong trade wind fetch to the east northeast of the islands sent a large easterly swell to east facing shores of the islands. This swell brought surf heights over ten feet.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Big Island East

When
November 10, 6:00 AM HST to November 12, 12:00 PM HST
Where
Big Island East forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County Emergency Management reported high surf that deposited debris on Bayfront Highway. This led to partial road closures, and the Coconut Island parking lot was closed due to ocean water inundation. Hilo Bay beaches were also closed due to ocean inundation from the high surf.

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 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, November 2025

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: 1295487.