Beachgoers and oceanfront residents throughout the state should keep an eye out during the holiday weekend for tides that could rise more than a foot higher than normal.
Beachgoers and oceanfront residents throughout the state should keep an eye out during the holiday weekend for tides that could rise more than a foot higher than normal.
Starting today, the National Weather Service in Honolulu says unusually high tides, known as “king tides,” might cause standing water on roadways and intermittent coastal flooding along all shores of the Hawaiian Islands, particularly in low-lying areas.
NWS also is predicting a large south swell will build starting Friday and continue through Memorial Day. The swell is expected to further exacerbate potential coastal flooding.
South-facing shores of the islands will feel the most direct impact, said NWS meteorologist Ian Morrison, and there’s a “really good chance” for a high-surf advisory to be issued for those areas during the weekend. Impact along remaining shores could vary.
“A lot of the Big Island coastline is elevated, so it’s got to be places close to sea levels,” Morrison said. “Those are the places impacted by the tide. There will definitely be localized inundation.”
King tides are predictable weather events that occur when a new or full moon coincides with when the moon is closest to the Earth. They happen a couple of times a year, Morrison said. The last king tide in Hawaii was observed in late April, when the highest tides on record were reported in Honolulu.
Hawaii County Civil Defense spokeswoman Kanani Aton said Wednesday no county park or beach closures are planned, though that could change if warranted.
The county also isn’t planning to increase lifeguard staffing, but is making sure its guards on duty are prepared, said Gerald Kosaki, battalion chief of special operations for the Hawaii Fire Department.
Kosaki said beach closures are unlikely, unless tides come with high surf and debris “or other hazards on the beach or in the parking area that may need to be addressed.”
“We are well aware of the king tides, which happen every so often,” Kosaki said. “We’re having our lifeguards be more proactive in preventative measures.”
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.