Small Craft Advisory, North swell builds, South peaks

By: Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: [email protected]

Kanaha kite-surfing / Image: Asa Ellison

**Updated at 3:30pm**

The National Weather Service has issued a HIGH SURF ADVISORY for east shores of Molokai and Maui until 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Hazardous ocean conditions are expected due to a combo of north swell and increasing winds. Watch out for rip currents, dangerous shore break conditions and strong breaking waves from 7 to 9 foot faces.

A GALE WARNING has also been issued for all Hawaiian offshore waters for tonight.

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY is posted for the Pailolo Channel, Māʻalaea Bay and Maui County windward waters until 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Rough seas are expected from 9 to 12 feet. Winds are forecasted out of the northeast at 20 to 25 knots. Inexperienced mariners are cautioned to avoid navigating in these conditions.

As expected, former hurricane ANA merged with a storm south of the Aleutians. The north-northwest swell (340-360°) generated from that system should build today bringing about knee to chest high surf, then peak Thursday in the chest to head high range.

Another shot of surf energy is expected to possibly fill in late Thursday night into Friday, peaking by Friday evening / Saturday morning .

A modest trade swell is expected to be in the mix late in the week as our trade winds ramp up.

Our current south-southwest swell (200-180°) is expected to peak today and tomorrow before fading out. We expect surf heights around waist to chest high, possibly shoulder high at the best breaks exposed to the swell.

Some spots will be in the shadow of other islands and won’t catch the swell as well, expect much smaller surf at those breaks.

A reinforcing swell (200-185°) is expected over the weekend. After that swell subsides, surf goes quiet with not much on the horizon out of the South Pacific.

Keep in mind, surf heights are measured on the face of the wave from trough to crest. Heights vary from beach to beach, and at the same beach, from break to break. 

**Click here for Malika’s full weather forecast.**