Monster surf due
on North Shore

Thirty-foot swells are expected
to usher in the new year, the
weather service says

By Jaymes K. Song and Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Thirty-foot swells are expected to kick off 1999 on the North Shore.

Forecasters said the waves will pound into Oahu's North Shore beaches around midnight tonight and will remain at 20 feet throughout the day tomorrow.

A high-surf advisory remains in effect for all north and west shores of all Hawaiian islands, according to the National Weather Service.

"It's pretty big surf coming in," weather service lead forecaster Paul Jendrowski said today.

City lifeguards and Coast Guard officials at midmorning said they hadn't received any reports yet of stranded surfers or boaters due to the incoming high surf.

While big surf hit the beaches, heavy rain and high winds startled some residents early this morning. The weather service said almost two inches of rain fell on parts of Oahu overnight.

Mililani received 1.87 inches of rain from 5 p.m. yesterday to 5 a.m. today, Jendrowski said.

He said the rainfall is pretty normal for this time of year. "But since this year has been so dry, everybody thinks it's a lot."

The rains passed Oahu this morning by 6 a.m. and continued to Maui. The wet weather should hit the Big Island later today.

Winds on Oahu throughout today were expected to range from 10 to 25 miles an hour.

Lifeguards were bracing for the rapid rise in surf.

"The wind should swing around to a north to a northeast wind around the time the surf hits," said Lifeguard Capt. Edmund Pestana. "We would like everybody to exercise extreme caution."

Pestana also advised boaters that channel entrances may be closed out by high surf conditions and that Oahu north and west shore beaches may be closed to swimming, including Sunset, Ehukai, Waimea Bay, Alii, Makaha and Maili beaches.

The conditions are caused by a large cold front moving in from the northwest.

Extended forecasts for tomorrow through Sunday call for a sunny New Year's Day dampened by lingering Windward and mauka showers.

Mostly sunny and fair conditions should prevail through the weekend, except for a few Windward showers.

Jendrowski said people who live in spots prone to flooding with high surf should take precautions.