High Surf Advisory in effect from Midnight to 6p 1/12/11

Surf will increase to 15 to 20 feet on the north shores of Maui and Molokai as a series of large west-northwest swells arrives in the islands.  The system will also bring 10 to 15 foot surf to the west shores of  Molokai.

The National Weather Service extended the High Surf Advisory for the affected shorelines.  The advisory is now in effect from midnight tonight until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12, 2011.

The swells were created by a series of storms moving across the western and central Pacific.  The waves are expected to arrive tonight and last through Wednesday.

The high surf will result in localized beach erosion and strong rip currents.  As a precaution, beach goers are urged to stay out of the water and well away from the shore break.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say rough surf created by a mix of long and short period swells will increase further Tuesday night, possibly pushing surf to warning levels.

A high tide of approximately 1.4 feet is expected between 6:54 p.m. and 8:12 p.m. tonight. The next high tide of approximately 1.9 feet is expected between 5:44 and 7:02 a.m. tomorrow.

(Posted by Wendy Osher, Information courtesy The National Weather Service and Maui County Civil Defense)

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