Weather advisory map via National Weather Service/NOAA

Hawaii County Civil Defense audio message

High Surf Warning

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has extended the High Surf Warning for the west facing shores of Hawaii Island until 6 a.m. Friday (Jan 20).

Surf along the west facing shores is forecast to be in the 10-12 foot range overnight lowering to 8-10 feet on Friday.

Coastal areas can expect strong breaking waves, shore breaks and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming difficult and dangerous.

Beachgoers, swimmers and surfers should heed the advice given by ocean safety officials and be careful. Know your limits and when in doubt, don’t go out.

Boaters should expect recreational surfers and bodyboarders using harbor channels to access surfing areas.

Due to impacts from the high surf, the following areas are closed:

• La‘aloa Beach Park
• Kahalu‘u Beach Park
• Kua Bay
• Hapuna Beach
• Mau‘umae Beach and
• Kauna‘oa Bay

Wind Advisory

Windy conditions are forecast for Kona, Ka‘u, North and East Kohala, interior areas of the island and Hawaii Island summits this weekend.

Winds are expected to weaken tonight, but expect these lighter winds to be short lived. A cold front will move down the island chain this weekend, while a strong high pressure system passes north of the islands. This combination will bring very windy conditions to all islands Saturday and Sunday. The strongest northeast to east winds will be over higher terrain, through mountain gaps, and downslope of the mountains.

The strong winds can send trees, branches and other objects into roadways, power lines and/or equipment. Winds this strong can damage roofs and cause flying debris if outdoor items are not properly tied down. These winds can make driving difficult especially for high profile vehicles. The winds can also forcefully swing doors open or shut so use caution when opening or closing vehicle doors.

Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) reminds people that if you see a downed power line you should stay as far away as possible and report any damage or outages to their dispatch center at (808) 969-6666.

Gale Watch

A Gale Watch is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon (Jan 22) for the Pailolo and Alehuihaha Channels, Hawaii Island leeward and southeast waters.

Northeast winds of 30-35 knots are possible Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon.

Small Craft Advisory

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for all Hawaiian coastal waters except Maalaea Bay until 6 p.m. Friday (Jan 20).

Seas are building to 10 to 12 feet over waters exposed to large west northwest swells.