Big Island Faces 8-12-foot Surf and 50+ MPH Wind Advisories

The National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Advisory for east-facing shores of East Hawaiʻi — from North Kohala to Kaʻū — and a Wind Advisory for North Kohala, South Kohala, Hāmākua, Kaʻū and interior locations. “Large breaking waves of 8 to 12 feet are possible,” and “East winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts over 50 mph, are possible,” the NWS said. The surf advisory is in place until 6 a.m. Tuesday and the wind advisory until 6 a.m. Monday, unless extended; forecasters expect both advisories to be in effect all day Sunday.

Maritime bulletins for the Big Island windward and southeast waters reinforce the rough outlook for boaters and harbors. NDBC marine statements note “East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 6 to 8 feet. Wave Detail: East 6 feet at 9 seconds and north northwest 4 feet at 15 seconds” for windward waters, while southeast waters read “East northeast winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 6 to 8 feet. Wave Detail: East 7 feet at 8 seconds.” The National Data Buoy Center also posted a “SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING,” advising caution for operators near South Point where offshore winds are forecast to reach 20–25 knots on Sunday and strengthen toward 25–30 knots by Monday.

Local surf forecasts and tide observations add nuance for shoreline communities from Hilo to North Kohala. Forecasters noted nearshore buoy observations have “just started to show a downward trend in wave heights,” and one local forecast says surf “is expected to fall just below advisory levels by Thursday,” though trades are expected to restrengthen over the weekend into early next week. Hilo Bay tide lines in the local forecast show a low of 0.1 feet at 4:52 p.m. and a high of 2.1 feet at 1:08 a.m., details that matter for shoreline erosion and coastal access timing.

Officials are urging island residents and visitors to avoid exposed shorelines and sea cliffs and to take care in high terrain. “Officials urge caution near shores and high terrain,” local safety notices say, and forecasters remind people that advisory thresholds are based on full-face measurements: “All surf height observations & forecasts are for the full face surf height, from the trough to the crest of the wave.”

Marinas, small-vessel operators and ocean recreation providers in Hilo, Kona and along the Hamakua Coast should treat the Small Craft Advisory and NWS wind guidance as operational constraints. With east-facing surf meeting or exceeding the NWS 8-foot advisory threshold and gusts over 50 mph possible inland, county ocean-safety teams and civil defense partners say they are coordinating messaging and monitoring conditions as trades evolve.