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National Weather ServiceHigh Surf AdvisoryVTEC SU.YArchive to October 1, 2026

High Surf Advisory: what it means and how often it is issued

The National Weather Service issued 248 high surf advisories in 2025 and 246 a year on average in 2008-2025; Florida, California and Hawaii got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 156, in line with the average of 161 for those months in 2008-2025.

What is a high surf advisory?

A high surf advisory means large, dangerous breaking waves and strong currents along the shore. An advisory is issued for a hazard less serious than a warning that can still cause inconvenience or danger if people are not careful.

Warning, watch or advisory: the three levels compared

Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.

How many high surf advisories a year?

248 high surf advisories in 2025
1002003004002008: 23820082009: 23520092010: 28620102011: 21820112012: 23320122013: 18720132014: 19720142015: 22820152016: 28520162017: 26620172018: 26720182019: 24420192020: 26020202021: 19720212022: 24120222023: 27920232024: 32420242025: 24820252026: 15620262008-2025 average 2462026 through September: 1561002003004002008: 23820082009: 2352010: 28620102011: 2182012: 23320122013: 1872014: 19720142015: 2282016: 28520162017: 2662018: 26720182019: 2442020: 26020202021: 1972022: 24120222023: 2792024: 32420242025: 2482026: 15620262008-2025 average 2462026 through September: 1561002003004002008: 23820082009: 2352010: 28620102011: 2182012: 23320122013: 1872014: 19720142015: 2282016: 28520162017: 2662018: 26720182019: 2442020: 26020202021: 1972022: 24120222023: 2792024: 32420242025: 2482026: 15620262008-2025 average 2462026 through September: 1561002003004002008: 23820082009: 2352010: 2862011: 2182012: 2332013: 1872014: 1972015: 22820152016: 2852017: 2662018: 2672019: 2442020: 26020202021: 1972022: 2412023: 2792024: 3242025: 2482026: 15620262008-2025 average 2462026 through September: 156

National count: each high surf advisory counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)156
2025248
2024324
2023279
2022241
2021197
2020260
2019244
2018267
2017266
2016285
2015228
2014197
2013187
2012233
2011218
2010286
2009235
2008238

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.

When in the year?

High Surf Advisories by month, 2008-2025
250500750Jan: 647JanFeb: 449FebMar: 491MarApr: 294AprMay: 122MayJun: 112JunJul: 133JulAug: 235AugSep: 418SepOct: 422OctNov: 530NovDec: 580Dec647250500750Jan: 647JanFeb: 449FebMar: 491MarApr: 294AprMay: 122MayJun: 112JunJul: 133JulAug: 235AugSep: 418SepOct: 422OctNov: 530NovDec: 580Dec647250500750Jan: 647JanFeb: 449FebMar: 491MarApr: 294AprMay: 122MayJun: 112JunJul: 133JulAug: 235AugSep: 418SepOct: 422OctNov: 530NovDec: 580Dec647250500750Jan: 647JFeb: 449FMar: 491MApr: 294AMay: 122MJun: 112JJul: 133JAug: 235ASep: 418SOct: 422ONov: 530NDec: 580D647

Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.

Which states get the most high surf advisories?

Florida gets the most: 52 a year in 2021-2025
FloridaFlorida: 5252CaliforniaCalifornia: 5050HawaiiHawaii: 4141North CarolinaNorth Carolina: 3030Puerto RicoPuerto Rico: 1919OregonOregon: 1515AlabamaAlabama: 1313AlaskaAlaska: 1212WashingtonWashington: 1111South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 1111FloridaFlorida: 5252CaliforniaCalifornia: 5050HawaiiHawaii: 4141North CarolinaNorth Carolina: 3030Puerto RicoPuerto Rico: 1919OregonOregon: 1515AlabamaAlabama: 1313AlaskaAlaska: 1212WashingtonWashington: 1111South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 1111FloridaFlorida: 5252CaliforniaCalifornia: 5050HawaiiHawaii: 4141North CarolinaNorth Carolina: 3030Puerto RicoPuerto Rico: 1919OregonOregon: 1515AlabamaAlabama: 1313AlaskaAlaska: 1212WashingtonWashington: 1111South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 1111FloridaFlorida: 5252CaliforniaCalifornia: 5050HawaiiHawaii: 4141North CarolinaNorth Carolina: 3030Puerto RicoPuerto Rico: 1919OregonOregon: 1515AlabamaAlabama: 1313AlaskaAlaska: 1212WashingtonWashington: 1111South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 1111

Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A high surf advisory covering two states counts in both.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2008-20252025
Florida524043
California505144
Hawaii414842
North Carolina302630
Puerto Rico191620
Oregon152014
Alabama13710
Alaska121312
Washington111514
South Carolina11613
Texas9512
Virginia986
Georgia866
Maine859
Maryland766
Massachusetts452
New Hampshire424
Rhode Island342
New York231
Delaware221
New Jersey221
Connecticut000

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.