SSW Peaks Today, Hilda Swell Expected

Image: Aaron Lynton

By Meteorologist Malika Dudley / Email: malika@mauinow.com

Alerts

A High Surf Warning is posted through 6:00 a.m. Friday for the east-facing shores of Maui and Moloka’i. Expect ocean water occasionally sweeping across portions of beaches. Very strong breaking waves and strong longshore rip currents. Breaking waves may occasionally impact harbors making navigating the harbor channel dangerous.

A Small Craft Advisory has replaced the Tropical Storm Warning for Maui County windward waters. Winds of 15 to 30 knots out of the northwest are forecasted with rough seas up to 15 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, tides, swell direction & period and expected wave heights.**

Maui Surf Forecast

North: Wave heights of about waist/head high are expected in the morning for the best breaks. Dropping through the day.

West:  Wave heights waist/shoulder high are expected. Ankle/knee high waves expected for the spots that are blocked by other islands.

South:  Wave heights chest/shoulder high are expected at the best breaks.

Guillermo swell continues to fade Friday as Guillermo continues to weaken and distance itself from the islands. If tropical system, Hilda, continues on its forecasted path we expect swell to be generated for the islands around the middle of next week.

New south-southwest swell is expected to peak today and hold pretty steady through Saturday before fading Sunday. Small overlapping swells expected late next week. Otherwise, pretty quiet.

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 your detailed Maui County weather report.**

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NOAA / NWS

Image: NHC 5 p.m. track Hilda