Advisory Level Swell Peaks Late Today

Alerts

A High Surf Advisory is posted for the west side from 6:00 a.m. Friday through 6:00 a.m. Saturday. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult and dangerous.

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for Big Island windward waters and the Alenuihaha Channel through 6:00 a.m. Saturday. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.

**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: Wave heights ankle to waist high today gradually picking up into the waist to head high range at the best spots by sunset.

Kona side: Surf heights are forecasted to build through the day peaking late in the day and into Saturday morning. Wave heights from head high to overhead are expected with larger waves possible at the best breaks.

South: Wave heights of head high to overhead are expected for spots catching the west-northwest. Wind swell could get up to waist high on the sets.

Our current west-northwest swell will continue to build Friday for the Kona side. The swell is expected to peak late Friday with overhead waves. The swell should peak slightly overhead for the northeast side Saturday morning when the swell shifts. The swell will fade late Saturday through early next week.

Another west-northwest is possible for the middle of next week.

Only small SSW for now but a fun sized swell is possible the middle of next week.

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