(KRON) – The latest on the big surf that’s hitting Hawaii and California
The north shores of all of the Hawaiian Islands are under a high surf warning, and forecasters expect 25- to 30-foot waves.
Meteorologist Derek Wroe of the National Weather Service says it’s the start of Hawaii’s big-wave season.
He says the swells hitting both Hawaii and California are probably connected to the same low-pressure weather system in the Pacific Ocean.
Officials on Hawaii’s Big Island closed six beaches because of dangerous surf conditions. Officials are shutting down one Maui beach because the parking lot is flooding.
Wroe warns spectators to keep a distance from the waves because what seems safe could become deadly in a short time. He says the waves in Hawaii are expected to gradually subside, but another big swell will begin to build Thursday night.
There have been no reports so far of coastal flooding as high tides and an arriving swell from a Pacific storm produced big surf along the central and Southern California coast.
National Weather Service forecaster Scott Sukop said Wednesday that waves between 3 and 6 feet pounded some areas where morning high tides were about 7 feet above normal.
He says the surf should start to subside by Thursday afternoon.
A coastal flood advisory is in effect through 2 p.m. Friday. The weather service warned that low-lying areas could see minor flooding, especially during high tides.
