Our North Shore, ladies and germs

Surfers took off at Waimea Bay on Dec. 6.

Surfers took off at Waimea Bay on Dec. 6.

The photo is from December. The forecast is for waves bigger than the one shown there.

Surf is expected to rise to 35 to 45 feet today [Wednesday] for the north shores of Oahu, Maui County and Kauai County. The west shores of Oahu, Kauai County and Molokai could see up to 20 to 30 feet, weather officials said. The warning is in effect through 6 a.m. Thursday.

A high surf advisory is in effect for west shores of Hawaii island.

Forecasters said a very large north-northwest swell will bring warning-level surf of 35 to 45 feet to north-facing shores today, then lowering to 20 to 25 feet Thursday.

This happens every winter.