Swell Expected to Reach Maui Saturday Night, Jan. 15, 2011

Posted by Wendy Osher

A powerful West North-west swell will arrive in the islands over the weekend.  Surf along Maui’s North facing shores will rise to 12-18 feet, while west shores will be in the 6-12 foot range.

Photo by Wendy Osher.

The elevated surf is the result of a powerful hurricane-force low-pressure system in the western north Pacific, that is expected to reach Hawaii on Saturday night.

The National Weather Service issued a High Surf Advisory for the North and West facing shores of Maui County from 6 p.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011 to noon on Monday, January, 17, 2011.

A High Surf Advisory means that theree will be rip currents and localized beach erosion along affected shorelines. As a precaution, beach goers are urged to stay out of the water and well away from the shore break.

A high tide of approximately 2.6 feet is expected between 1:16 a.m. and 2:34 a.m. Sunday morning. The next high tide of approximately 1.2 feet is expected between 11:13 a.m. and 12:31 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

(Information courtesy National Weather Service and Maui County Civil Defense)