Surf forecast to drop but new swell is due
The prolonged northwest swell that brought deadly surf conditions to the state over the weekend is expected to finally diminish today, just in time for another swell to arrive, surf forecasters predict.
The current swell, generated by a powerful storm off the coast of Japan, brought waves of up to 30 feet to north- and west-facing shores and resulted in numerous rescues and the closure of popular beaches on Hawaii island and Kauai. Since the high surf arrived Thursday, two visitors from San Francisco drowned off Kauai, and another man drowned while swimming at Makaha.
On Sunday, Oahu lifeguards performed two rescues along the western shore and took a combined 2,250 preventive actions on both the north and west shores.
A high-surf advisory for north- and west-facing shores of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and Niihau and the west-facing shores of Hawaii island is in effect through 6 p.m. today. However, the National Weather Service warns that another northwest swell expected to arrive this afternoon could prompt a continuance of the advisory.
Forecasters predict waves as high as 15 to 20 feel along north shores and 10 to 15 feet on west shores today.
In the skies, north winds will give way to northeasterly trades today as a high-pressure system to the west-northwest of the islands slides eastward, according to the weather service. Returning tradewinds will bring moisture, resulting in showers in windward areas by the middle of the week.
Search for man fruitless so far
The Kauai Fire Department resumed its aerial search Sunday for the second of two California visitors swept out to sea Friday while exploring the rocky coast south of Kalihiwai Bay.
But there was no sign of 47-year-old Brian Baker, and the search likely will resume this morning, county officials said.
Sunday’s helicopter search area focused on the stretch of coast from Anini Beach to Lepeuli (Larson’s) Beach, the county said. Fire officials also searched for the body from vantage points on the northern coastline of Kauai until about 5 p.m.
The body of another victim in the same incident, 46-year-old Adam Griffiths, was recovered Saturday morning. Both men were from San Francisco.
The county closed all North Shore beaches again Sunday because of high surf.
Drivers cited for phone use
The Hawaii County Police Department issued 2,606 citations to motorists who used cellphones and other electronic devices while driving last year, a 93 percent increase from 2011.
Police officials attributed the jump to a federal grant for distracted-driver enforcement, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports. The citation figure for 2011 was 1,351.
Sgt. Robert Pauole, head of the Traffic Services Division, said the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board was $35,917 for the year ending Sept. 30. That was up from $25,280 the previous year.
The ban on using electronic devices while driving was enacted in 2010 and includes cellphones and computer games. Hands-free phones are exempted.
