news
02-25-2016, 10:26 AM
Every so often, Mother Nature shows off her raw and unforgiving power.
In Hawaii, that force has been on display all week, thanks to a pair of gigantic, back-to-back swells (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31299131/noaa-mondays-historic-swell-strongest-in-50-years), which generated waves large enough to overtake beach parks, wash across roadways and damage oceanfront properties (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCLpQ0nA0Oe/).
"We're seeing very, very huge wave heights (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31275308/high-surf-warning-issued-for-huge-nw-swell-coastal-flooding-possible)," Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said this week. "We're seeing very dangerous situations."
Today was a big day!!! 30+ )(awaiian #hawaii #Oahu #big #waves #paradise #heavy #ocean #sea #water #clarklittle (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCHYE-eKu1l/)
A photo posted by clark little (@clarklittle) on Feb 22, 2016 at 8:24pm PST
The initial swell brought wave faces of up to 70 feet (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31299131/noaa-mondays-historic-swell-strongest-in-50-years) in certain areas Monday, Hawaii News Now reports. A stronger-than-usual El Niño (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2015/101515-noaa-strong-el-nino-sets-the-stage-for-2015-2016-winter-weather.html) was fueling one of the strongest surf events in Hawaii in 50 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In an unprecedented move, state officials shut down a 12-mile stretch of Kamehameha Highway (http://www.civilbeat.com/2016/02/north-shore-spectacle-beaches-roads-parks-take-a-pounding/), on the north shore of Oahu, in response to ocean surges that washed over the roadway (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31285821/kamehameha-hwy-between-haleiwa-and-turtle-bay-only-open-to-residents-bus-and-emergency-vehicles-due-to-large-surf).
Danger Zone #northshore #oahu #bigwaves #rockpiles (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCHIKpZB2xr/)
A photo posted by @northshoreoahu on Feb 22, 2016 at 6:05pm PST
In addition to flooding, several areas experienced severe coastal erosion (http://khon2.com/2016/02/21/kamehameha-hwy-reopens-along-oahus-north-shore-as-extreme-surf-subsides/). A 30-foot stretch of beach on the north shore of Oahu (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31299131/noaa-mondays-historic-swell-strongest-in-50-years) reportedly disappeared overnight.
Despite numerous beaches being closed, lifeguards were kept busy, rescuing dozens of people (http://www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/dangerous-surf-washes-over-roads-closes-north-shore-parks/) and issuing hundreds of warnings, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports.
The historic event also wreaked havoc on oceanfront properties, including a home on Oahu (http://www.kitv.com/story/31298351/residents-along-coast-concerned-for-high-surf-dlnr-explains-property-protection-options) that all but toppled into the ocean.
Still standing... Last chance to save the house. #elnino #brockswell #eddiewouldgo #northshore #sketchyspottotakeapic (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCLpQ0nA0Oe/)
A photo posted by B W (@bigmtnbill) on Feb 24, 2016 at 12:11pm PST
If Monday's pounding swell wasn't enough, the National Weather Service warned Wednesday (http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/) that another followed close behind. On north-facing shores, surf was forecast to rise rapidly from Wednesday and reach heights of 40 to 50 feet (http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=hfo&wwa=high%20surf%20warning) through Thursday.
But the potentially perilous one-two punch had the Hawaii surf community abuzz.
Just two weeks after being forced to call off the legendary big wave surf contest "The Eddie (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=entry/after-a-6-year-hiatus-this-insane-big-wave-surf-contest-gets-green-light_us_56b8e338e4b01d80b247454a)" because of unfavorable conditions, event organizers gave the contest a green light (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCKOH7uCPEa/?taken-by=quiksilver) for Thursday. If conditions were to hold up, it would mark the first time the prestigious event has run since December 2009.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=terms.html/) It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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In Hawaii, that force has been on display all week, thanks to a pair of gigantic, back-to-back swells (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31299131/noaa-mondays-historic-swell-strongest-in-50-years), which generated waves large enough to overtake beach parks, wash across roadways and damage oceanfront properties (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCLpQ0nA0Oe/).
"We're seeing very, very huge wave heights (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31275308/high-surf-warning-issued-for-huge-nw-swell-coastal-flooding-possible)," Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said this week. "We're seeing very dangerous situations."
Today was a big day!!! 30+ )(awaiian #hawaii #Oahu #big #waves #paradise #heavy #ocean #sea #water #clarklittle (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCHYE-eKu1l/)
A photo posted by clark little (@clarklittle) on Feb 22, 2016 at 8:24pm PST
The initial swell brought wave faces of up to 70 feet (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31299131/noaa-mondays-historic-swell-strongest-in-50-years) in certain areas Monday, Hawaii News Now reports. A stronger-than-usual El Niño (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2015/101515-noaa-strong-el-nino-sets-the-stage-for-2015-2016-winter-weather.html) was fueling one of the strongest surf events in Hawaii in 50 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In an unprecedented move, state officials shut down a 12-mile stretch of Kamehameha Highway (http://www.civilbeat.com/2016/02/north-shore-spectacle-beaches-roads-parks-take-a-pounding/), on the north shore of Oahu, in response to ocean surges that washed over the roadway (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31285821/kamehameha-hwy-between-haleiwa-and-turtle-bay-only-open-to-residents-bus-and-emergency-vehicles-due-to-large-surf).
Danger Zone #northshore #oahu #bigwaves #rockpiles (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCHIKpZB2xr/)
A photo posted by @northshoreoahu on Feb 22, 2016 at 6:05pm PST
In addition to flooding, several areas experienced severe coastal erosion (http://khon2.com/2016/02/21/kamehameha-hwy-reopens-along-oahus-north-shore-as-extreme-surf-subsides/). A 30-foot stretch of beach on the north shore of Oahu (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/31299131/noaa-mondays-historic-swell-strongest-in-50-years) reportedly disappeared overnight.
Despite numerous beaches being closed, lifeguards were kept busy, rescuing dozens of people (http://www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/dangerous-surf-washes-over-roads-closes-north-shore-parks/) and issuing hundreds of warnings, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports.
The historic event also wreaked havoc on oceanfront properties, including a home on Oahu (http://www.kitv.com/story/31298351/residents-along-coast-concerned-for-high-surf-dlnr-explains-property-protection-options) that all but toppled into the ocean.
Still standing... Last chance to save the house. #elnino #brockswell #eddiewouldgo #northshore #sketchyspottotakeapic (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCLpQ0nA0Oe/)
A photo posted by B W (@bigmtnbill) on Feb 24, 2016 at 12:11pm PST
If Monday's pounding swell wasn't enough, the National Weather Service warned Wednesday (http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/) that another followed close behind. On north-facing shores, surf was forecast to rise rapidly from Wednesday and reach heights of 40 to 50 feet (http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=hfo&wwa=high%20surf%20warning) through Thursday.
But the potentially perilous one-two punch had the Hawaii surf community abuzz.
Just two weeks after being forced to call off the legendary big wave surf contest "The Eddie (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=entry/after-a-6-year-hiatus-this-insane-big-wave-surf-contest-gets-green-light_us_56b8e338e4b01d80b247454a)" because of unfavorable conditions, event organizers gave the contest a green light (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCKOH7uCPEa/?taken-by=quiksilver) for Thursday. If conditions were to hold up, it would mark the first time the prestigious event has run since December 2009.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=terms.html/) It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247392764756/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/4dd7d201/sc/14/rc/1/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247392764756/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/4dd7d201/sc/14/rc/1/rc.htm)
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