Hawaii Swell

CDIP stations in Hawaii and California recorded elevated swell late last week, created by a powerful, long-lived extratropical storm system that started in the West Pacific and proceeded to traverse the ocean. The significant wave height exceeded the NOAA GFS WW3 model forecast by several meters in exposed locations. With El Nino in positive phase, more strong storm activity of this nature is expected. Credit to our partners at PacIOOS who are responsible for maintaining the Hawaii stations.