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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Large North Shore waves keep lifeguards busy


Advertiser Staff

As of 2 p.m. today, city lifeguards on Oahu’s North Shore had been involved in three ocean rescues, two assists and 400 preventative actions.

The Honolulu Emergency Services Department said the National Weather Service is forecasting the current swell to continue to decline before a much larger northwest swell begins rolling up on island shores late tomorrow.
Surf is expected to rise rapidly tomorrow along north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai with warning level surf likely during the afternoon hours.
The swell will then move down the island chain later Thursday afternoon through Friday. Wave heights are expected to be similar to those during the large swell event a couple of weeks ago.
“Although this first swell is subsiding we are anticipating an even larger and potentially dangerous swell to begin arriving late Thursday,” said Bryan Cheplic, Emergency Services Department public information officer.
“Ocean Safety personnel are asking for the public to take the necessary precautions to protect life and property,” Cheplic said.