Large Swell Expected This Weekend

Alerts

A Marine Weather Alert is posted for all coastal waters. A long-period south swell will bring potential for surges in harbors facing the south and may lead to waves breaking in and near harbor entrances (especially Sunday and Monday). Extreme tide changes could lead to locally strong currents even in channel entrances. Boaters should be alert to larger than normal surf along south shores this weekend.

**Click directly on the images below to make them larger. Charts include: Big Island projected winds, tides, swell direction & period and expected wave heights.**

Big Island Surf Forecast

Hilo side: Waist high waves or less are expected today. Flat for most spots.

Kona side: Wave heights of knee/chest high are expected for southerly exposures. The best breaks could get up to shoulder high.

South: Wave heights knee/chest high today. The best exposures could get up to shoulder high on the sets.

A small mix of southwest and south-southwest swells will show through Saturday. A strong storm that recently developed near New Zealand is producing a swell that is expected to reach us late Saturday, peaking Monday, with surf likely reaching advisory levels for south facing shores.Tuesday afternoon the swell is expected to begin to ease and fade through the rest of the week.

A mix of northwest and north swells are lingering through the next few days. Possibly another swell on tap for Monday.

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.  

**Click here for your detailed Big Island weather report.**

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS