Update: High surf warning extended for Big Island’s western shorelines

Update at 5 a.m. Dec. 27: Surf along exposed north and west shores will remain well above warning levels today before slowly easing tonight through the weekend as an extra-large west-northwest to northwest swell gradually eases.

As a result, the National Weather Service in Honolulu has extended the high surf warning for western shores of the Big Island, including the coastlines of Kona, Kohala and portions of Kaʻū, until 6 a.m. Saturday.

Surf of 10 to 14 feet is forecast to lower to 8 to 12 feet by early Saturday along the island’s leeward shorelines.

Forecasters say to expect ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows, creating the potential for impacts to coastal properties and infrastructure such as roadways.

Powerful longshore and rip currents also will be present at most beaches in the warning areas, and large breaking waves and strong currents could impact harbor entrances and channels, making vessel handling challenging.

The public is advised to stay away from shorelines in the affected areas, be prepared for road closures and postpone entering or leaving affected channels until the high surf subsides.

Original post at 4:45 a.m. Dec. 26: Surf along west shores of the Big Island will rapidly build through this morning, peak this afternoon through Friday and then slowly ease through the weekend as a new west-northwest swell builds down the island chain.

The swell will once again bring large surf to the Kona and Kohala coasts, so the National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a high surf warning for those western shorelines in effect from noon today through 6 p.m. Friday.

Surf is forecast to build to 8 to 12 feet, with impacts from the breakers expected to be high, including very strong breaking waves and powerful currents.

Breaking waves in entrances could make channel navigation dangerous.

Weather officials advise the public to stay away from the shoreline along the affected coasts, be prepared for road closures and postpone entering or leaving channels until the surf subsides.