National Weather ServiceHigh Surf WarningVTEC SU.WArchive to October 16, 2026
High Surf Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 20 high surf warnings in 2025 and 26 a year on average in 2008-2025; Hawaii, California and Oregon got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 14, 17% below the average of 17 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a high surf warning?
A high surf warning means very large breaking waves that can wash people off beaches and damage coastal property. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many high surf warnings a year?
National count: each high surf warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 16 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2024 | 32 |
| 2023 | 37 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2012 | 32 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2008 | 22 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.
When in the year?
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 16, 2026.
Which states get the most high surf warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A high surf warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 11 | 13 | 10 |
| California | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Oregon | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Florida | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Alabama | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Washington | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.
The latest high surf warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS TiyanWarningOctober 16, 2026
High Surf Warning: Guam, Rota, Tinian and 1 more, GU and MP
In force until 4:00 a.m. UTC+10, October 19, 2026
NWS TallahasseeWarningOctober 10, 2026
High Surf Warning: South Walton and Coastal Bay, FL
Expired 11:00 a.m. EDT, October 11, 2026
NWS MobileWarningOctober 10, 2026
High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal and Baldwin Coastal, AL
Expired 12:00 p.m. CDT, October 10, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
High Surf Warnings in states without a page of their own, in AreaZine's record
16 notices in AreaZine's record; the latest first below. Every one, oldest first: October 8, 2026 to October 16, 2026.
- High Surf Warning: Guam, Rota, Tinian and 1 more, GU and MP Guam, Rota, Tinian and 1 more Warning
- High Surf Warning: Guam, Rota, Tinian and 1 more, GU and MP Guam, Rota, Tinian and 1 more Warning
- High Surf Warning: South Walton and Coastal Bay, FL South Walton and Coastal Bay expired
- High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal and Baldwin Coastal, AL Mobile Coastal and Baldwin Coastal expired
- High Surf Warning: Escambia Coastal, Santa Rosa Coastal and Okaloosa Coastal, FL Escambia Coastal, Santa Rosa Coastal and Okaloosa Coastal expired
- High Surf Warning: South Walton and Coastal Bay, FL South Walton and Coastal Bay expired
- High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more, AL and FL Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more expired
- High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more, AL and FL Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more expired
- High Surf Warning: South Walton and Coastal Bay, FL South Walton and Coastal Bay expired
- High Surf Warning: South Walton and Coastal Bay, FL South Walton and Coastal Bay expired
- High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more, AL and FL Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more expired
- High Surf Warning: South Walton and Coastal Bay, FL South Walton and Coastal Bay expired
- High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more, AL and FL Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more expired
- High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more, AL and FL Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more expired
- High Surf Warning: South Walton and Coastal Bay, FL South Walton and Coastal Bay expired
- High Surf Warning: Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more, AL and FL Mobile Coastal, Baldwin Coastal, Escambia Coastal and 2 more expired
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov). A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.