Swell Building to 15′-20′ Surf on North Shore by Friday

South swell in Mākena, Oct. 1, 2014. Courtesy photo by Chris Archer.

By Wendy Osher

A new swell is due to arrive in the islands today, peaking at 15 to 20 feet on Friday.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for the north and west facing shores of Molokaʻi and the north facing shores of Maui from 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.

The NWS described the surf as a “long period northwest swell” saying surf will build quickly Thrusday night, peak overnight into Friday, and gradually declining through the weekend.

The agency says surf will be:

• 12 to 16 feet along north facing shores Thursday night, Oct. 9, 2014;
• 15 to 20 feet along north facing shores Friday, Oct. 10, 2014;
• 8 to 12 feet along west facing shores Thursday night, Oct. 9, 2014; and
• 10 to 14 feet along west facing shores Friday, Oct. 10, 2014.

A nice south swell was captured in the above photograph by Maui’s Chris Archer earlier this month along the south shore of the island in Mākena.  Surfers and body boarders also enjoyed decent size waves along the north shore of Maui at Hoʻokipa on Wednesday morning.

There is also a small craft advisory in effect for Māʻalaea Bay on Maui, the Pailolo Channel between Maui and Molokaʻi, and the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel between Maui and Hawaiʻi Island until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.

The National Weather Service says the advisory will produce hazardous conditions for small craft including east winds of 20 to 25 knots, and rough seas of 8 to 13 feet through Saturday.