Hundreds of Thousands Warned of ‘Dangerous’ 14-Foot Waves

Hundreds of thousands of people in Hawaii were warned of “dangerous” swimming conditions on Thursday as strong waves pummeled the state’s south-facing shores.

Why it Matters

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Honolulu issued a high surf advisory for all south-facing shores on Wednesday morning. A small craft advisory also was issued for the waters surrounding the islands.

The alert comes after a tsunami warning was issued earlier this week following a series of powerful waves generated by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. However, NWS meteorologist Laura Farris told Newsweek the current alert is not related to the earthquake or tsunami waves.

What To Know

NWS Honolulu issued a high surf advisory at 3:27 p.m. HST on Wednesday, warning that surf would “build to 10 to 14 feet by Thursday afternoon” on south-facing shores of all Hawaiian islands. The advisory remained in effect until 6 p.m. HST on Friday.

With surf heights projected to reach up to 14 feet, residents and visitors were advised to exercise extreme caution due to dangerous conditions and strong currents.

The surf increase was attributed to a long-period south swell. It originated south of New Zealand, Farris said, when strong winds of 50 knots, or roughly 57 miles per hour, pushed the swell toward Hawaii.

Farris added that this is a typical summer pattern. As of Thursday afternoon, Hawaii meteorologists are not expecting to extend the advisory, but Farris said conditions would be reassessed before it expires.

The NWS described the impact of the new swell as “moderate,” warning that “strong breaking waves and strong currents will make swimming dangerous.” Officials urged residents and visitors to “heed all advice from ocean safety officials” and included the warning, “When in doubt, don’t go out.”

The advisory underscored a week of extraordinary Pacific wave activity, which followed tsunami warnings and advisories issued across the region, including earlier evacuations and beach closures in Hawaii and along the U.S. West Coast.

Earlier in the week, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami advisory after the earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29. Initial warnings and evacuations were put in place for Hawaii and other Pacific locations but were later downgraded as the waves subsided.

What People Are Saying

NWS Honolulu, in a high surf advisory: “A long period south…swell will build to advisory levels Thursday, peaking near warning levels. This swell is expected to hold through Friday, and then gradually decline through the weekend.”

NWS Honolulu, in a small craft advisory: “Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in these conditions.”

What Happens Next

The high surf advisory was set to remain in effect until Friday evening as the elevated south swell slowly began to diminish.

Officials urged residents and tourists to stay informed via official channels and to strictly follow safety advisories, as unexpected wave patterns or future seismic events could renew or prolong hazardous conditions along Hawaii’s coastlines.