Surf's Up In Hawaii - Waves Up To 50 Feet On North Shore (!)

[hatrack]

HONOLULU, Hawaii, December 15, 2004 (ENS) - Many of the world's greatest surfing champions are gathered on Oahu's North Shore for the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters competition, but while they live for big waves, the surf pounding in today may force a postponement of the contest as it did on Monday.

The National Weather Service early this morning issued an urgent high surf warning for the north and west facing shores of Oahu, combined with a high tide. In addition, a very large and dangerous northwest swell continues to build across the Hawaiian Islands, the weather service said. Forecasters are predicting surf heights of 35 to 50 feet along north facing shores today, and waves are forecast to reach heights of 20 to 30 feet along west facing shores.

The surf will be large enough to wash over coastal roads and damage property along parts of affected shorelines, especially near the time of high tide at six this morning. Forecasters are warning residents and visitors alike to avoid the North Shore for their own safety.

"Don't come to the North Shore and expect be going for a big walk on the beach tomorrow," Honolulu City and County lifeguard John Hoogsteden told KHON TV last night."

EDIT

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[Leilani]

1. They've already had to close the roads on the North & West Shores

& all the idiot tourists will generally make matters worse.

[soothsayer]

2. kowabunga!

surf's up!

[Fud]

3. The tourists do make it worse

All roads leading to the north shore get plugged up massively whenever there is a big swell. The worst part is when tourists see the locals in the water and think it's fun. Then they picked up by a wave and get slammed head first into the shore. With a broken neck or back and end up paralized.

Most of the time it's funny like some woman losing her top, but other times it's deadly serious. I ended up spending a bunch of time telling tourists to get out of the water when noticing they are utterly clueless. If you don't know what you are doing in waves that size you are fucked.

[Quetzal]

4. Here is an article in the LaTimes

Hawaii Prepares for 50-Foot Storm Waves

HONOLULU — Predictions of surf reaching as high as 50 feet during high tide on Oahu's North Shore had civil defense authorities preparing for the worst and surfing organizers preparing for a seldom-held big wave contest.

"High surf coupled with unusual high tide levels have a tendency to magnify the effects of the event and increase the probability of damages to homes, roads and infrastructure in the affected areas," said Doug Aton, acting administrator for Oahu Civil Defense.

High surf warnings were in effect until tonight for north-facing shores of all islands except Lanai.

A handful of beaches on Oahu were closed Tuesday, and Kauai County officials closed beaches on the Garden Isle's north shore as a precaution but expected them to reopen today.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-121504surf_wr,0,698196.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Anakin Skywalker]

5. Holy Shit!

:wow: