KAILUA-KONA — Warning-level surf will keep several West Hawaii beaches closed today.
KAILUA-KONA — Warning-level surf will keep several West Hawaii beaches closed today.
A very large, long-period northwest swell was expected to make its way down the island chain Wednesday through today, bringing warning-level surf to west-facing shores of the Kona and Kohala coasts and north-facing shores from Upolu Point in North Kohala to Puna through 6 a.m. Friday, Honolulu-based National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Burke said Wednesday.
Buoys in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, located a thousand miles northwest of the state, were recording 22-foot swells in the open ocean Wednesday afternoon, Burke said. The leeward side of the island was added because the swell is coming from a “little more westerly direction than the one we just had.”
“Based on swell estimates and what we are seeing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands buoys, we should see surf at about 8-12 feet arriving (Wednesday) and continuing through (tonight),” he said about west-facing shores. Along north-facing shores, wave heights of 20-25 feet are forecast.
With the continued high surf, Laaloa and Kahaluu beach parks in North Kona and the wharf side of Mahukona Beach Park in North Kohala will remain closed today, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. Officials are monitoring the surf’s impact, and additional closures might be announced this morning.
“All along the coast there will be significant wave action, even up into leeward Kohala. Hapuna (Beach State Recreation Area) could see some rather large waves,” Burke said.
North of Kawaihae, the meteorologist expects surf to be smaller because it is more sheltered by Maui.
Residents along affected shorelines should expect some inundation of property and roadways, particularly at high tide, which Burke estimated would be about 1.87 feet at approximately 5:14 a.m. today in Kailua-Kona. Though inundation could be “significant,” the surf will hit at a lower high tide than just a few days ago at full moon when high tide was about 2 feet.
“The higher tides are coming down a little bit,” Burke said, “but there still could be some problems in some places where we will get some water or debris on the road in some of the low-lying areas, particularly just south of downtown Kona.”
The swell also is expected to produce moderate surges in Hilo Harbor, as well as large breaking waves at exposed harbor entrances. Mariners should use extreme caution when entering or leaving port or consider postponing trips, forecasters said. Boaters also should keep an eye out for surfers and bodyboarders using harbor channels to access surfing areas.
Beachgoers, surfers and bodyboarders should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials. Forecasters noted anyone entering the water could face significant injury or death.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.