Special Weather Statement: Coastal Flooding Likely This Week

A special weather statement has been issued by the National Weather Service due to the possibility of coastal flooding, which the agency says is likely this week.

The highest predictions on Maui are for Hāna in East Maui, where a high tide of 2.89 feet is forecast for 3:50 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019.

The NWS says “impacts may include inundation of low-lying roads, docks, boat ramps, and other coastal infrastructure, and flooding of beaches that are normally dry.”

The agency is forecasting “unusually high water levels during peak high tides this week.”

According to the NWS, “breezy south winds Tuesday and Christmas Day may increase the wave run-up along south-facing shores. The threat of coastal flooding will diminish next weekend as the peak daily tides subside.”

Peak high tides for Kahului, Maui will be:

• 2.44 feet at 1:20 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019;
• 2.63 feet at 1:58 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019;
• 2.74 feet at 2:34 a.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2019;
• 2.75 feet at 3:10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019;
• and 2.7 feet at 3:45 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019.

Peak high tides for Lahaina will be:

• 2.17 feet at 2:38 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019;
• 2.34 feet at 3:16 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019;
• 2.44 feet at 3:52 a.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2019;
• 2.45 feet at 4:28 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019;
• and 2.4 feet at 5:03 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019.

Peak high tides for Māʻalaea Bay in Kīhei will be:

• 2.29 feet at 3:12 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019;
• 2.48 feet at 3:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019;
• 2.57 feet at 4:26 a.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2019;
• 2.59 feet at 5:02 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019;
• and 2.53 feet at 5:37 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019.

Peak high tides for Hāna, Maui will be:

• 2.56 feet at 2 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019;
• 2.77 feet at 2:38 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019;
• 2.87 feet at 3:14 a.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2019;
• 2.89 feet at 3:50 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019;
• and 2.83 feet at 4:25 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019.

Peak high tides for Honolulu will be at:

• 2:28 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019;
• 3:08 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019;
• 3:47 a.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2019;
• 4:25 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019;
• and 5:03 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019.

The NWS says water levels at the Honolulu tide gage are running 5 to 10 inches above predicted levels.

The heights and times of the peak high tides vary from place to place.

File photo: coastal flooding on South Kīhei Road. PC: file Kevin J Olson (4.8.18)