North Shore Reinforcement, South Swell Fades

October 30, 2014, 10:24 PM HST
* Updated October 31, 6:55 AM

Listen to this Article
2 minutesLoading Audio... Article will play after ad...

By Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: [email protected]

The National Weather Service has continued the HIGH SURF ADVISORY for east shores of Molokaʻi 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.

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 8 to 12 feet. Winds are forecasted out of the northeast at 25 to 30 knots, with gusts up to 35 knots. Inexperienced mariners are cautioned to avoid navigating in these conditions.

SWIPE LEFT OR RIGHT

North: Surf is expected in the head high to overhead range with sets up to 2 to 3 feet overhead at the best breaks exposed to the swell. Late in the day some spots could get double overhead sets.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

West: Breaks that don’t catch the NNW or SSW swells are forecasted to get smaller surf in the ankle to knee high range. Spots that are open to the swell should see head high to overhead waves with sets up to 2 to 3 feet overhead at the best breaks. Late in the day some spots could possibly get double overhead sets.

South: Ankle-slappers to possibly waist high surf is expected. Generally the farther south you go, the bigger the waves. The best southern exposures could see waves in the waist to chest high range.

Our current north-northwest swell (340-360°) will fade throughout the day. Another reinforcing swell is expected to fill in, peaking late in the day through early Saturday morning at a couple feet overhead. This swell is expected to fade out starting late Saturday.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

A new northwest swell (305-325°) is expected by midweek.

A nice sized trade wind swell is affecting our eastern shores which are under a high surf advisory at this time. Sloppy, choppy conditions are expected for northeast shores.

Our current south-southwest swell (200-180°) is fading out today and into the weekend. A reinforcing swell (200-185°) is expected over the weekend, peaking in the knee to waist high range Saturday into Sunday morning before fading out.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

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.