High Surf — Oahu North Shore, Hawaii

2023-01-22 to 2023-01-23 · Oahu North Shore, Hawaii

Event narrative

In addition to the injuries (four injuries were due to people being washed off the rocks at Sharks Cove and two injuries were reported at a surf event), Ocean Safety officials rescued 21 people and took more than 3,000 preventative actions related to the dangerous surf. Sand and debris was washed across Kamehameha Highway at Rockpiles and Laniakea Beach, plus along a portion of the Ke Nui bike path. Waves also inundated the parking lot at Sharks Cover and overtopped a break wall that protects homes and the public access road to Keiki Beach.

Wider weather episode

An extra large northwest (310-320 degree) swell produced extremely dangerous giant sized surf. Coastal water overwash also occurred across many low lying roadways along northern and western facing shorelines, especially during periods of high tide. A high surf

warning was issued for most north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the west facing shores of Big Island.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1079561. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.