HONOLULU (KHON2) — Although the latest forecast puts the state out of the cone of uncertainty for Hurricane Kiko, emergency officials are warning residents and visitors to brace for dangerous surf conditions beginning as early as tonight on the Big Island.
The National Weather Service says swells generated by Kiko will reach Hawaiʻi Island and Maui County Sunday night, with surf expected to build to warning levels by Monday. While the threat of heavy rain and strong winds has diminished, the risk at the shoreline remains high.
“We’re very excited Kiko has decided to take a northerly turn and continues to trend that way,” said Dr. Randal Collins, Honolulu Department of Emergency Management Administrator. “We’re going to continue to monitor it and any chance it deviates to the south we’ll be looking at that very closely.”
Forecasters estimate less than a 10 percent chance of tropical storm-force winds anywhere in the state, but they warn that powerful swells along east-facing shores could wrap around to other sides of the islands.
For Maui County, surf will likely impact the coastline from Hāna to Pāʻia. On Oʻahu, waves are expected to rise from Makapuʻu up to Haleʻiwa.
“I think initial impacts will be late into Monday, and Tuesday we might see more wind and that will create high surf,” Collins said. “We might get remnant rain, but I don’t think it’s anything significant that we have to worry about in terms of precipitation. I’m focused on the high surf issue.”
On Kauaʻi, officials say many shorelines will be exposed.
“We have considerable area of coastline with exposure,” said Elton Ushio, Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency administrator. “On the north shore we’ll have wrap from the east anywhere from Kīlauea down to Anahola, Kapaʻa, Wailua, Līhuʻe, and some areas of the south shore will have wrap-around from the east swell.”
While no official surf advisories or warnings have yet been issued, officials are urging caution. They advise visitors to check with Ocean Safety lifeguards, head to guarded beaches, and for surfers to know their limits.
The swells come as peak high tides continue this week, which could increase the risk of flooding in low-lying areas.
“Those are just going to augment each other so we’ll see increased effects, particularly around high tide,” Collins said. “More so, exercise caution if planning beach activities.”
The National Weather Service says high surf warnings could be issued as early as Monday night for the eastern half of the state, and Tuesday for the western half.
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Emergency officials remind residents to sign up for county emergency alerts and note that September marks the peak of hurricane season in Hawaiʻi.