Oahu and Kauai residents should prepare for hazardous winds that could reach speeds of 60 mph today through tomorrow.

The National Weather Service also warned of high surf for the north and west shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island until 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Those high winds and surf warnings prompted Honolulu officials to close all North Shore and Leeward beaches today and move homeless campers off the beaches.

“;We are taking this precaution because we want everyone to be safe,”; said Mayor Mufi Hannemann in a news release. “;It is not safe for people to remain on these beaches because of high winds and high surf, especially at night.”;

All Leeward and North Shore beaches will remain closed until conditions are determined to be safe, city officials said. Bellows and Waimanalo Bay beach parks on the Windward side will also be closed as a precaution against snapped tree limbs.

The city and the American Red Cross are opening temporary shelters at Waianae, Kaneohe, Waialua and Waimanalo district parks. Outreach teams planned to head to the beaches at 9 a.m. today to warn homeless campers of the closure. The Red Cross has minimal amenities available, so residents going to a shelter should bring nonperishable food, water, clothing, bedding, personal medications and other personal items, city officials said.

The city will also provide evacuation shuttles for residents who need help getting to a shelter.

The high-wind watch starts at 6 p.m. Winds on Kauai and Oahu will gradually increase today, with sustained winds of 40 mph and possible gusts of 50 to 60 mph tonight and tomorrow, according to forecasters. The strongest gusts are expected over high terrain and across communities north and east of the high terrain.

Surf is expected to be 20 to 25 feet today on the North Shore and 12 to 20 feet on the west shores of Oahu. A high-surf warning means waves will batter the shoreline and produce deadly rip currents, the weather service said. Residents should stay away from the shoreline.