High Surf, Small Craft Advisories Issued for All Islands

Small craft advisory, Graphic by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a coastal hazard, high surf advisory for the south-facing shores of all the Hawaiian Islands through Wednesday, July 8, at 6 p.m.

A building south-southwest swell will peak on Tuesday and remain elevated into Wednesday.

Surf along south-facing shores is expected to be in the 6 to 9 feet range through the evening, rising to 7 to 10 feet tonight and Tuesday.

Moderate impacts are expected–strong breaking waves and strong longshore and rip currents will make swimming difficult and dangerous.

Swimmers and surfers should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Boaters should expect recreational surfers utilizing harbor channels to access surfing areas.

A small craft advisory has also been issued for waters and channels around Maui and Hawai‘i Island until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Northeast winds will be 20 to 25 knots and seas will be rough at 8 to 11 feet.

A small craft advisory means that wind speeds of 25 to 33 knots and/or seas 10 feet or greater are expected to produce conditions hazardous to small craft.

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.