Marine Forecast
Illustrated map of Hanalei Bay, Kauai

Marine forecast

Kauai Windward, HI

current wind
8 kt E
Gusts
9 kt
Seas
5.6 ft
Period
14 sec
Air
80°F

Observed Tue 8:54 AM | PHZ111

Gusts now
9 kt
Seas now
5.6 ft · 14 sec
Air
80°F
Water
83°F
72-hr peak
15 kt

In brief

At 8:54 am HST on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station NWWH1 (Nawiliwili, HI, 21 miles away) measured wind from the E at 8 kt, gusting to 9 kt; buoy 51201 measured seas of 5.6 ft. The NWS forecast for Kauai Windward, HI issued at 3:22 am HST on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for today: “East southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet.”

Source: National Weather Service Honolulu HI forecast; NDBC observations

Wind forecast · ktPeak 15 kt

05101520Wed 14Thu 15Fri 1605101520Wed 14Thu 15Fri 16
Sustained GustOct 13-16 | HST

Seas forecast · ftPeak 7 ft

01234567Wed 14Thu 15Fri 1601234567Wed 14Thu 15Fri 16
Oct 13-16 | HST

NWS marine forecast

PeriodForecast
TodayEast southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave Detail: East 4 feet at 6 seconds, north northwest 4 feet at 15 seconds and south 3 feet at 14 seconds. Scattered showers this morning. Isolated showers this afternoon.
TonightEast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave Detail: North northwest 4 feet at 13 seconds, east 3 feet at 6 seconds and south 3 feet at 12 seconds.
WednesdayEast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave Detail: North northwest 4 feet at 12 seconds, east 3 feet at 5 seconds and south 3 feet at 12 seconds.
Wednesday NightEast northeast winds to 15 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave Detail: North northwest 4 feet at 12 seconds, east 3 feet at 5 seconds and south 3 feet at 11 seconds. Isolated showers in the evening, then scattered showers after midnight.
ThursdayEast northeast winds to 15 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet. Wave Detail: East 5 feet at 6 seconds, north northwest 3 feet at 11 seconds and south 3 feet at 18 seconds. Scattered showers.
Thursday NightEast northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 6 to 7 feet. Wave Detail: East 6 feet at 6 seconds, north northwest 4 feet at 12 seconds and south 3 feet at 17 seconds. Scattered showers.
FridayEast northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 7 to 9 feet. Wave Detail: East 7 feet at 7 seconds and north 6 feet at 12 seconds. Scattered showers.
SaturdayEast northeast winds to 20 knots. Seas 8 to 9 feet. Wave Detail: East 7 feet at 7 seconds and north 6 feet at 13 seconds. Scattered showers.

Issued Tue 3:22 AM by Honolulu HI (product CWFHFO).

Synopsis

Trades will be gentle to moderate through Wednesday. Surface high pressure is expected to build north of the state Thursday through this weekend and allow winds to become fresh to locally strong.

TimeWindGustSeasWater
Tue 8:54 AM 8 kt E 9 kt — 83°F
Tue 7:54 AM 5 kt WSW 6 kt — 83°F
Tue 6:54 AM 3 kt W 4 kt — 81°F
Tue 5:54 AM 4 kt WSW 5 kt — 81°F
Tue 4:54 AM 3 kt W 4 kt — 81°F
Tue 3:54 AM 3 kt W 5 kt — 81°F
Tue 2:54 AM 3 kt W 4 kt — 81°F
Tue 1:54 AM 4 kt W 5 kt — 81°F
Tue 12:54 AM 3 kt WSW 5 kt — 82°F
Mon 11:54 PM 3 kt WSW 4 kt — 82°F
Mon 10:54 PM 5 kt NNE 7 kt — 82°F
Mon 9:54 PM 6 kt NE 9 kt — 82°F

Observed Tue 8:54 AM at NDBC buoy NWWH1 (Nawiliwili, HI), 21.0 miles away. Seas from buoy 51201 (Waimea Bay, HI (106)), 87.8 miles away, at Tue 8:56 AM.

What is the marine forecast for Kauai Windward today?

Today: East southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 5 to 6 feet. Wave Detail: East 4 feet at 6 seconds, north northwest 4 feet at 15 seconds and south 3 feet at 14 seconds. Scattered showers this morning. Isolated showers this afternoon.

Is there a small craft advisory for Kauai Windward?

No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone PHZ111 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.

How high are the waves at Kauai Windward right now?

Seas are running 5.6 ft at a 14-second period, measured at NDBC buoy NWWH1 Tue 8:54 AM, 21.0 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 7.0 ft Fri 8 AM.

What is the water temperature at Kauai Windward?

The nearest buoy read 83°F (28°C) at Tue 8:54 AM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.

What do the wind speeds in knots mean?

One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.

Where does this forecast come from?

The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone PHZ111, issued by Honolulu HI, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.

Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFHFO, issued Tue 3:22 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station NWWH1, read Tue 8:54 AM. Retrieved Oct 13, 9:42 AM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.