High Surf Advisory for West-Facing Shores Goes Into Effect Wednesday Morning

A high surf advisory will go into effect Wednesday morning for west-facing shores of the Big Island.

According to Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, the National Weather Service in Honolulu issued the advisory for areas of the island from Limukoko Point in North Kohala south to Kauna Point in Ka‘u. The advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday. Forecast wave heights are expected to be from 6-8 feet.

A high surf advisory means surf will be higher than normal, shore break, and dangerous currents make swimming difficult and dangerous.

Because of the high surf advisory, Civil Defense advises the following:

• Expect strong breaking waves, shore break and rip currents, making swimming difficult and dangerous.
• Property owners in low coastal areas should prepare their property for high surf.
• Beachgoers, swimmers and surfers should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution.
• Beaches could be closed without notice.

According to the National Weather Service, a west-northwest swell will fill in across the island chain tonight. This swell will produce advisory level surf during the day Wednesday. The swell will begin to subside late Wednesday, with surf falling below advisory levels that evening.