High Surf Expected for Maui, Molokaʻi

High surf at Ho‘okipa Beach on the North Shore. File photo by Madeline Ziecker.

The National Weather Service has extended a high surf warning for the north facing shores of Maui and the north and west facing shores of Molokaʻi until 6 p.m. on Thursday.

A high surf warning means that dangerous, battering waves may pound the shoreline.

NWS officials say the surf could lead to dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents.

A long-period northwest swell is expected to build through the day, peak tonight and early Thursday at dangerously high levels, then gradually diminish late Thursday and Friday.

Surf could reach 25 to 35 feet through the day along north facing shores, and 15 to 25 feet along west facing shores of Molokaʻi and Maui through 6 p.m. Thursday.

According to the NWS, there will likely be long lulls between the sets of larger waves as the swell builds today. Don`t be caught off guard when larger waves arrive suddenly.

Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves.

An announcement from the NWS urged the public to stay out of the water, stating that “only highly experienced should enter the water. Anyone entering the water could face significant injury or death.”

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