The edge-pass from the north-northwest doesn't look like it will offer much today as most of the energy misses Hawai`i to the east. North and northwest facing shores should only be around 1-4 foot although some breaks may see a few larger sets if we're lucky. Upper West shores won't see much action at all with wave heights only around 0-2 foot. The east-northeasterly windswell should still provide small to moderate surf along our east facing shores around 3-5 foot, potentially wrapping around to other shores around the island. A minor south swell may give us something small to play on today around 1-3 foot or slightly higher at the best breaks, but don't expect much.
We should another minor north-northwest swell filling in Saturday but it shouldn't rise much above head-high levels. We'll have to wait until later Sunday for anything decent to ride when a northwest swell generated far northwest of the islands arrives, potentially near advisory levels. The source low is fading but another area of low pressure is modeled to develop further north tomorrow which has a good chance of developing a secondary swell front pushing toward the state through the weekend and into Tuesday. The combination of swells should provide plenty surf to ride for many days next week. The models continue to show more surf later in the forecast period but it is too early to discuss. Over the past 5 days or so, the models have been showing the potential formation of a significant south swell. The southern storm track is indeed shifting to a favorable direction pushing northeast from under New Zealand, just as predicted. But the forecast storm is looking like it may be stronger than originally modeled, and that is a very good thing. If all continues to go well, a very strong low will push up from the southeast of New Zealand later in the weekend that would send up a well-above advisory level swell that would arrive next weekend. Cross your fingers tightly this weekend and check back in a couple days for details and confirmation. Pray for surf!
Missing Surfer/Camper Alert
Maui police are searching for 43-year-old Laura Vogel. Vogel was last seen on Sunday, February 21, 2010. Her van was found in the Pauwela Lighthouse Area of Maui's North Shore on Monday. It is thought that she was camping in the area on Sunday night. Vogel is approximately 5'7" with blond hair and blue eyes.
If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact the police department at 808-244-6425.
Wind & Tide Info
The moderately strong easterly tradewinds will continue around 15-20 mph with stronger gusts in some areas. The winds will continue to slowly fade over the weekend, becoming moderate Saturday. The Maui Tide Report for today is: High tide at Kahului was 2.1 foot at 1:20am late last night, dropping to a low of 0.5 foot at 7:45am this morning, rising again to a high of 1.4 foot at 1:00pm shortly after noon, the fading to a flat low of 0.0 foot at 6:57pm early this evening.
Maui Weather Passing showers over our windward and mauka areas should continue today under breezy tradewinds. High pressure remains north of the state and is producing moderately breezy tradewinds across the islands but a ridge is descending south toward Hawai`i that will decrease the winds to moderate levels over the weekend.An approaching front may not have enough power to reach the islands and is currently expected to stall near Kaua`i around Sunday. We may still see increased shower activity Sunday into Monday but most of the rain should be focused over windward and mauka areas. High pressure will once again fill in later Monday after the front passes or dissipates which will lead to a very brief round of breezy tradewinds, but a ridge will likely weaken the winds again Tuesday. Another front may approach the state later Tuesday as well, but it's too early for specifics.
