Waves up to 25 feet could hit North Shore this weekend
A surfer headed out into the waves Thursday at the Volcom Pipeline Pro Surf Contest at Ehukai Beach Park.
Jackie McKay of Banff, Canada, and Michelle Cruz, of Mexico City, both seniors at St. Michael's University School in Victoria, British Columbia, watched Friday as 20- to 24-foot surf broke off Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu.
A new northwest swell that could bring waves up to 25 feet along the north shores of some Hawaiian islands has prompted officials to raise the high surf advisory issued Thursday morning to a high surf warning effective through 6 p.m. Sunday.
The warning is in effect for the north and west shores of Kauai, Molokai, Niihau and the north shores of Oahu and Maui, according to the National Weather Service. Surf along north shores is expected to build to 20 to 25 feet this afternoon through tonight while west shores are expected to see surf of 15 to 20 feet.
The west shores of Oahu and Hawaii island remain under a high surf advisory and could see surf of 12 to 18 feet and 6 to 8 feet, respectively.
Beachgoers and boaters should exercise caution and to expect strong breaking waves and shorebreak, as well as strong longshore and rip currents.
