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Marine Product Dissemination Information
Marine section from the Area Forecast Discussion
issued at: Sep 24, 2017 8:48 PM HST
Light to moderate trades are expected to persist through the first half of the week as a weak surface trough approaches the islands from the east. The wind flow will be light enough for land/sea breezes to setup over some leeward areas through this time. A return of moderate to fresh trades are forecast through the second half of the week as the trough moves through from east to west. Some of the typically windier channel waters may even reach advisory levels Thursday through Friday.
Surf along south facing shores will remain small through the week with mainly a mix of background southeast and southwest swell energy expected. The highly zonal pattern with systems racing eastward across the southern Pacific continues, with no significant sources shown setting up within Hawaii's swell window over the next several days. The next long-period pulse out of the southwest (210-220 deg) from the Tasman Sea should fill in Tuesday night and continue through midweek, which will lead to a slight increase in surf. This source is from a strong- to gale-force low that moved across the Tasman Sea last week.
Small, short period (10-12 seconds), northwest swell energy will continue and should be enough to keep the surf from going flat along north facing shores through the week. The latest surface analysis and satellite data showed a 998 mb low centered around 1200 nm north- northwest of the islands with a pocket of near gale-force winds focused toward the islands within the 330-340 deg band and seas up to around 10 to 13 ft. This reinforcement out of the north-northwest should reach the local waters late Wednesday and hold through Thursday. A compact storm-force low currently east of Japan is forecast to continue eastward over the upcoming few days toward the Date Line around 35N. Although the GFS/WAVEWATCH III solution suggests a favorable setup for a west-northwest (310-320 deg) swell to fill in across the local waters this coming weekend, the ECMWF is not as aggressive with this system. As a result, forecast confidence for the upcoming weekend remains low at this time. Guidance should come into better agreement over the upcoming couple of days.
Surf along east facing shores will remain small through the first half of the week as the trades locally and upstream of the state remain light. Once the aforementioned surface trough moves through from east to west by midweek, small and choppy surf will likely return as the trades fill back in through the second half of the week.
Text Products
- Surf Forecast for O`ahu
- Collaborative Surf Discussion
- Statewide Surf Observations
- High Surf Criteria
- Marine Forecast Matrix
- Coastal forecast for Hawaiian Waters
- Click the zone name below for the forecast
- Offshore forecast for Hawaiian Waters
- North Pacific High Seas Forecast (140W-160E, EQ-30N)
- South Pacific High Seas Forecast (120W-160E, EQ-25S)
- Hawaii Buoys (from the National Data Buoy Center)
- Latest Marine Reports for Hawaii (links to RSS feeds included)
- Click the buoy name for observations
Charts
Marine Graphics
The Marine Radiofax Charts for Station KVM-70 are now available via E-mail or FTP. Click here for more details on the charts available. For information on FTPMAIL click here.
Graphic Forecasts for Hawaiian Islands and surrounding coastal waters |
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| Pacific Streamline Analysis (130E-110W,30S-30N) |
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| North Pacific Surface Analysis (130E-110W,EQ-60N) From the Unified Surface Analysis |
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| Pacific Surface Forecast (130E-110W,30S-50N) |
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| Pacific Wind Wave Analysis and Forecasts |
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| Pacific Significant Cloud Features (160E-110W, 30S-50N) |
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| Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Analysis satellite-derived (updated twice weekly) |
Symbols & Test Chart (gif) Symbols & Test Chart (TIF) |
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Related Links
Tides
- Upcoming tides for select Hawaii locations
- Tides for Honolulu
- Tide tables for Hawaii
- Interactive Map for Tidal Information
Radio Fax/FTPMail
- KVM-70 Radio Fax Broadcast Schedule
- KVM-70 Marine Radiofax Charts
- Help file for FTPMAIL
- Worldwide Radio Fax Broadcast Schedule
Surf/Beach Safety
- Oahu Surf Climatology
- Why do Surf Heights vary from place to place and moment to moment
- Jellyfish Information
- Hawaii Beach Safety
- Honolulu County Ocean Safety
- Kauai Beach Explorer
- Maui County Ocean Safety
Other NOAA Information
- Marine Debris: FAQ - Japan Tsunami Debris
- National NWS Marine Forecasts
- NOAA Raster Navigational Charts
- National Coastal Data Development Center
- Definitions for Marine Forecasts
- Rip Current Safety
- Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
- Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
- Marine Mammal Stranding Contact for the Pacific
- NOAA Fisheries Protecting Wildlife Information
- Ocean Prediction Center
- Tropical Prediction Center
- Weather Prediction Center
- Unified Surface Analysis Manual
About the Marine Program
Routine forecast are issued for the Hawaiian Coastal Waters, the Offshore Waters, and High Seas. Coastal Waters are within 40 nautical miles of the main Hawaiian islands. The Offshore area extends from this 40 nautical mile mark to 240 nautical miles of the main Hawaiian islands. The High Seas forecasts are issued for an area that covers approximately 15,000,000 square miles, extends as far north as 30N, and as far south as 25S, and between 120W south of the equator and 140W north of the equator to 160E.
Marine Area of Responsibility Map
Map of Marine Zones
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