High surf advisory to return for most of Hawaiian Islands on Tuesday
UPDATE 4:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service has canceled the high surf advisory from earlier today, but issued a new high surf warning starting that goes into effect early Tuesday morning.
The high surf advisory covers the north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and north facing shores of Maui, from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Weather officials said a large swell is expected to build quickly late tonight.
This larger swell is expected to drive surf heights to warning levels along north and west facing shores late tonight for Kauai and for Oahu, Molokai, and Maui on Tuesday.
Surf of 8 to 12 feet tonight is expected to increase to 22 to 26 feet for north facing shores late tonight into Tuesday. Surf of 7 to 10 feet tonight for west facing shores is expected to increase to 15 to 20 feet late tonight into Tuesday.
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Officials warn of ocean water occasionally sweeping portions of beaches, very strong, breaking waves and rip currents. These breaking waves may also impact harbors, making navigating the harbor channel dangerous.
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A high surf advisory remains in effect for all north- and west-facing shores of Kauai County, Oahu, and Molokai, as well as the north-facing shores of Maui, until 6 p.m. today.
The National Weather Service said a large, north-northwest swell is expected to peak early this morning — significantly later than originally expected — which extends the advisory through this afternoon.
Surf of 12 to 18 feet is expected along north facing shores, while surf of 10 to 14 feet is expected along west facing shores.
NWS warns of strong, breaking waves, and rip currents that will make swimming difficult and dangerous
A gradual downward trend is anticipated by this evening, weather officials said, but a larger, more significant swell is due to arrive late tonight into Tuesday. This larger swell will likely drive surf heights to warning levels Tuesday for the exposed north and west facing shores of smaller isles.
Weather forecasters, meanwhile, expect mostly dry and stable conditions and light and variable winds to continue into Tuesday. A return to a more typical tradewind pattern is expected by Wednesday.
