Consider today the calm before the storm. Thursday afternoon is expected to see the largest swell of the winter, so far, with waves upwards of 35 feet expected on north- and west-facing shores, according to National Weather Service forecasters. Yesterday,
Consider today the calm before the storm.
Thursday afternoon is expected to see the largest swell of the winter, so far, with waves upwards of 35 feet expected on north- and west-facing shores, according to National Weather Service forecasters.
Yesterday, county lifeguards closed beaches from Hanalei pavilion to Polihale, although waves were not as big as forecasters predicted and lifeguards expected, said Kalani Vierra, supervisor of the Kaua’i Fire Department’s Ocean Safety Bureau.
“Still, there were strong currents,” and only a few experienced surfers braved the surf in areas where the beaches were closed, he said.
“I think it’s slowly dropping,” Vierra said from his vantage point at Kekaha yesterday afternoon. Waves were three to five feet at Kekaha yesterday afternoon, with winds making surf conditions less than ideal, he said.
“But another huge swell is arriving Thursday afternoon,” he said.
If that happens, expect many North Shore and Westside beaches to again be closed, with lifeguards doing tomorrow what they did yesterday: posting signs, warning people not to go in the water, trying to keep people out of the water, and advising those who want to enjoy the ocean to head for safer beaches like Lydgate, Po’ipu and Salt Pond, he said.
“Lots of people go to Ke’e or Tunnels (Ha’ena beaches) to snorkel,” so they’re advised to go to other beaches for their ocean activities, said Vierra.
“We can’t physically stop anyone (from going into the water during periods of dangerous surf), but we fully warn them before they go out.”
