Wednesday 12 23 20 morning call

Beautiful day of sunshine and waves on the south shore.


The same swell was slightly bigger a few days ago in Tahiti. Photo posted by Mataio.

4am significant buoy readings and discussion.
South shore
Barbers
1.3ft @ 20s from 181° (S)

Lanai
2.3ft @ 20s from 172° (S)

Out of season southerly swell is a beauty, check the Lahaina webcam if interested, for size, conditions and consistency.

North shore
NW001
4.2ft @ 17s from 297° (WNW)

Waimea

2.6ft @ 13s from 306° (WNW)

1.4ft @ 20s from 311° (NW)

New long period WNW swell on the slow rise all day, let's see how Pat Cadlwell described the evolution of the fetch:
A new low pressure system deepened to near 960 mb near 50N, 170E Sunday 12/20. It set up a wide fetch over the 300-320 degree band with the head of the fetch reaching the Date Line early Monday. Within the wide fetch there were two maximums of winds, with the strongest within the 315-325 degree band and the other over 305-310 degrees. Seas reached above 30 feet for the former and more near 20-25 feet for the latter. 

Models show near gales associated with this pattern to near 1000 nm away late Monday, which would add some shorter-period swell to the mix on Thursday. The primary source was produced west of the Date Line. It should build locally Wednesday AM with long-period forerunners to levels above average by the PM. The event should peak in the wee hours Thursday at marginally extra-large, meaning select outer reefs activating. The wide wave period and directional spread should make for a mix of breaker patterns, with the event holding near extra-large Thursday.

Below are the maps of Dec 19 though 22 that will help follow the above description.

Below are the graphs of the reported buoys together with the Surfline forecast. Due to the initial westerly direction, I don't think we'll see much of it in Maui until the late morning/afternoon. Sunset might see some big sets, but tomorrow should be filled in completely. Hookipa should be fairly small to start the day with.

Wind map at noon .The other ones can be found at link n.-2 of GP's meteo websites list in the right column (click on animation of the 10 meter column).

Fetches map (circles legend: red: direct aim, blue: angular spreading, black: blocked, yellow: apparent direct aim, but out of the great circle ray map, so not 100% sure).
North Pacific (about 4 days travel time from the NW corner of the North Pacific):

South Pacific (about 7 days travel time from east/west of New Zealand):

Morning sky.