High Surf Advisory and Gale Warning Issued, Small Craft Advisory Extended

The National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Advisory for east facing shores until 6 a.m. Saturday. Hazardous ocean conditions are expected due to a combo of north swell and increasing winds. Watch out for rip currents, dangerous shore break conditions, and strong breaking waves from 7 to 9 foot faces.

A Small Craft Advisory is posted for waters near South Point, Big Island leeward waters, and the Alenuihaha Channel until 6:00 a.m. Saturday. Winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected with rough seas from 8 to 11 feet. Inexperienced mariners are cautioned to avoid navigating these conditions.

A Gale Warning has also been issued for all Hawaiian offshore waters for tonight.

Today’s Surf Report

Hilo: Surf is expected in the waist to shoulder high range today, possibly head high at best exposures.

Kona: Only spots that catch a south will see notable surf today. Those breaks could get waist to chest high surf, possibly shoulder high at the best spots exposed to the swell.

South: Swell peaking at about waist to chest high today, possibly reaching shoulder high at the best breaks. The southeast coast will also catch some of the trade swell.

As expected, former hurricane Ana merged with a storm south of the Aleutians. This north-northwest swell (340-360°) should build today and peak tomorrow afternoon. Another shot of surf energy is expected to possibly fill in on Friday, peak Friday night, and slowly fade out through the weekend.

A modest trade swell is expected to be in the mix late in the week as our trade winds ramp up.

Our current south-southwest swell (200-180°) is expected to peak today and tomorrow before fading out. A reinforcing swell (200-185°) is expected over the weekend. After that swell subsides, surf goes quiet with not much on the horizon out of the South Pacific.

Keep in mind, surf heights are measured on the face of the wave from trough to crest. Heights vary from beach to beach, and at the same beach, from break to break.