Series of Swells for Thanksgiving Weekend

Ho’okipa yesterday / Image: Jimmie Hepp

By Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: [email protected]

Alerts

A High Surf Advisory is in effect for the north and east facing shores of Maui and Molokaʻi for a larger than expected north-northeast swell. Surf along north facing shores could reach heights of 12 to 15 feet. Surf along east facing shores could reach heights of 8 to 12 feet. The advisory is set to expire at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Expect strong breaking waves, shore break and dangerous currents that make getting into the water hazardous and swimming difficult.

A Small Craft Advisory is posted for the ʻAlenuihāhā and Pailolo channels and Māʻalaea Bay until 6 a.m. Thursday. Winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected out of the northeast and rough seas up to 13 feet. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.

**Click directly on the images below to make them larger. Charts include: Maui County projected winds, forecasted swell direction, height & period, tides, a surface map and expected wave heights.**

Maui County Surf Forecast, Wednesday November 26, 2014

North: Surf is expected overhead or more for the best spots on Molokaʻi and Maui’s northern exposures.

West: Spots that are open to the northwest-north swell will get some wrap with waves expected shoulder to head high. Breaks that don’t catch the swell are forecasted to get smaller surf at ankle high or flat.

South: Many areas will remain flat today.

Our current northwest swell (305-330°) is expected slowly begin to fade today. We expect a new north-northeast swell to start building in the afternoon which will keep wave heights steady in the overhead range through the short term. This swell is expected to peak later tonight. Conditions will be rough and choppy due to the breezy winds.

Another swell out of the northeast is expected to bring another round of overhead waves late this week. There’s also the possibility of a new northwest swell for the weekend.

Super small trace amounts of swell expected out of the SPAC. Tiny to small surf is expected off and on for top spots through Saturday this week (180-220°). There isn’t much on the horizon to get excited about.

**Click here for your detailed Maui County weather report.**

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS