March 18, 2018 Surf Forecast

Photo: James Grenz

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Swell Summary

Outlook through Saturday March 24: Small northwest and north swells will continue through the next couple of days. Surf will stay below advisory levels along north and west facing shores. A larger and longer period northeast swell will arrive Wednesday and peak Wednesday night into Thursday. Surf along north and east facing shores will reach advisory level surf with this swell, possibly warning level heights for east facing shores at the peak. Surf along south facing shores should see above null conditions for a next few days with small long period background swells moving through.
Surf heights are forecast heights of the face, or front, of waves. The surf forecast is based on the significant wave height, the average height of the one third largest waves, at the locations of the largest breakers. Some waves may be more than twice as high as the significant wave height. Expect to encounter rip currents in or near any surf zone.

North East

am        pm  

Surf: Waist to chest high ESE medium period swell for the morning going more NNW and building into the stomach to shoulder range in the afternoon.

Conditions: Semi glassy in the morning with SE winds less than 5mph. Semi glassy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting ESE 5-10mph.

North West

am        pm  

Surf: Ankle to knee high SSW ground swell.

Conditions: Glassy in the early morning with E winds less than 5mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions move in during the morning hours with the winds shifting W 5-10mph.

West

am        pm  

Surf: Knee high SSW ground swell with occasional thigh high sets.

Conditions: Glassy in the morning with N winds less than 5mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting W 5-10mph.

South East

am        pm  

Surf: Waist to stomach high ESE medium period swell with occasional chest high sets.

Conditions: Semi glassy in the morning with NNE winds less than 5mph. Semi choppy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting ENE 10-15mph.

Image: NOAA

Image: NOAA

Image: NOAA

Image: NOAA

Image: NOAA

Image: NOAA

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

Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov and SwellInfo.com