Surf expected to hit 28 feet today


Huge surf is arriving today and will stay through Monday,
bringing with it high surf warnings and advisories through
out the Islands, the National Weather Service said.


Surf along northern shores will be 6 to 10 feet this morni
ng, build to 12 to 16 feet by the afternoon and rise to 22

to 28 feet tonight. Northern shores of Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, O'
a
hu, Moloka'i and Maui are under a high surf warning from n
oon today through 4 p.m. tomorrow.


A high surf warning means that dangerous surf is expected
along the affected shorelines.


A high surf advisory has also been issued for O'ahu's west
shores through tomorrow. An advisory means waves along the
affected area will be higher than normal.


On the Big Island, a high surf advisory is in effect for n
orth and west shores tonight through tomorrow night.


Surf along west shores will be 4 to 7 feet through this mo
rning, building to 8 to 12 feet by the afternoon and to 14

to 18 feet tonight, the National Weather Service said.


The remainder of the surf forecast calls for east shores t
o see surf 3 to 6 feet today and south shores to see surf
1 to 3 feet.


Surf heights are forecast heights of the face or front of
waves. Some waves may be more than twice as high as the si
gnificant wave height. Expect to encounter rip currents in
or near any surf zone.


"This is the highest surf forecast of the 2006 season," sa
id Bill Balfour, O'ahu Civil Defense administrator. "This
i
s also a rather late season swell."


Officials urged ocean-goers and coastal residents to be aw
are of the high surf, and take necessary precautions. O'ahu
Civil Defense also said:


Drivers driving along the North Shore should exercise caut
ion as roads can become blocked with sand and debris.


Beachgoers should stay well away from the water and from s
pots overlooking the ocean, which could be suddenly inundat
ed by a rogue wave.


Residents living along the North Shore coastline should be
ready to evacuate. Instructions will be given out on the r
adio and television.

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