High Surf Advisory Extended for Big Island Shorelines

Dangerous waves and strong currents continue to impact north and east-facing beaches

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The National Weather Service has extended a high surf advisory for the north and east shorelines of Hawaii's Big Island until 6 PM today. Forecasters expect surf heights of 15 to 20 feet on north-facing shores, dropping to 12 to 16 feet this afternoon. East-facing shores are predicted to see 10 to 14 feet of surf through the morning, then falling to 8 to 12 feet by this afternoon. The high surf has caused the closure of all Hilo beach parks and Bayfront Highway due to large waves and debris on the road.

Why it matters

The high surf and dangerous ocean conditions pose a risk to public safety, prompting officials to close beaches and roads. This is an ongoing weather event that has impacted the Big Island over the past few days, requiring continued monitoring and precautions from residents and visitors.

The details

The National Weather Service extended the high surf advisory for the north and east shorelines of the Big Island until 6 PM today. Forecasters expect surf heights of 15 to 20 feet on north-facing shores, gradually dropping to 12 to 16 feet this afternoon. For east-facing shores, surf is predicted to be 10 to 14 feet through the morning, then falling to 8 to 12 feet by this afternoon. The high surf has led to the closure of all Hilo beach parks as well as Bayfront Highway between Waiānuenue Avenue and Pauahi Street due to large waves and debris on the road. Ocean safety officials are advising the public to avoid swimming and other ocean activities due to the strong breaking waves and dangerous currents.

  • The high surf advisory was originally issued on February 24th and has now been extended until 6 PM on February 25th.
  • The high surf peaked early on the morning of February 24th, prompting the initial closures of Hilo beach parks and Bayfront Highway.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather advisories and warnings.

Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Department

The local government agency that oversees and manages the beach parks in Hilo, which were closed due to the high surf conditions.

Hawaii Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that advised motorists to avoid Bayfront Highway in Hilo due to the high surf and debris on the road.

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What’s next

Ocean safety officials will continue to monitor the surf conditions and provide updates on any changes or additional closures. Residents and visitors are advised to heed all warnings and avoid the affected shorelines until the high surf advisory is lifted.

The takeaway

The extended high surf advisory for the Big Island's north and east-facing shores highlights the ongoing threat of dangerous ocean conditions in Hawaii, even after a weather event has seemingly passed. Proactive measures like beach and road closures are necessary to protect public safety when powerful surf impacts the coastline.