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+--- Thread: Huge NE Swell Warning (/showthread.php?tid=19301)
Huge NE Swell Warning - Eric1600 - 03-21-2018
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2018/03/21/hawaii-news/northeast-swell-could-cause-trouble/
Forecasters are predicting wave heights to peak between 20 and 25 feet. A high surf warning is in effect from 6 a.m. today to 6 p.m. Thursday evening.
...Hawaii County Civil Defense said to expect road and beach closures without prior notice.
Brenchley said it’s rare for dangerous surf to come from the northeast and said residents along those shorelines are “generally not used to dealing with” the potential impacts when waves become potentially destructive to lives and property.
He recalled a destructive swell between Nov. 8-10, 1996, as an example.
“It was similar, but probably bigger than, the event we’re looking at here. It caused pretty widespread damage on the Big Island,” he said. “There were 28 residents evacuated from homes and encampments in King’s Landing, Keaukaha and Radio Bay. High surf washed a Keaukaha home off its foundation and moved the structure 60 feet. Hilo Bay had damage inside the breakwater, hyper-surges. A rock seawall on Kumau Street broke down. There was heavy erosion.”
The weather service’s high surf warning said residents and beachgoers can “expect ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows, creating the potential for impacts to coastal properties and infrastructure, including roadways. Powerful longshore and rip currents will be present at most beaches. Large breaking waves and strong currents may impact harbor entrances and channels causing challenging boat handling” in and near the port of Hilo. ...
RE: Huge NE Swell Warning - MarkD - 03-21-2018
The very rare Bayfront wave broke today....giant and rather disorganized....might be better tomorrow for the surfers.
For the rest of us, the big waves are nice because they close the highway. Which means pedestrians have free reign on the highway! If you are in town Thursday, check it out. Park downtown or in one of the two lots toward Bayfront Beach park (and the gas station).
You can safety walk near the fence and there's a couple of spots where you can walk to the edge of the ocean without being bombarded with spray. And note that spray can contain rocks! (Careful) Tonight the road was littered with rubble.
The waves are quite a sight. The whole circular walk is about 30-45 minutes.
ETA: Surf dropped fast; highway is reopened. 10:30 a.m. Thurs.