WASHINGTON — The House will miss the midnight Monday deadline lawmakers set for voting to avoid the “fiscal cliff.”

President Barack Obama and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Monday they are near a deal to avoid wide-ranging tax increases and spending cuts — the fiscal cliff — that take effect with the new year.

Both men said they were still bargaining over whether — and how — to avoid $109 billion in cuts to defense and domestic programs that take effect on Wednesday.

It remained unclear whether the Senate would vote Monday.

Congress could pass later legislation retroactively blocking the tax hikes and spending cuts. This is a developing story. Click here for the latest update.

EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has extended the HIGH SURF WARNING for NORTH & WEST FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and NORTH FACING SHORES of MAUI, now in effect until 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.

A High Surf Warning indicates that dangerous battering waves will pound the shoreline. This will result in very dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents.

EFFECTS: The large northwest swell will continue to produce elevated and dangerous surf through tonight along exposed north and west facing shores of most of the Hawaiian island chain. Large breaking waves will cause hazardous conditions in the surf zone, including life-threatening rip currents. Also, expect localized coastal flooding and beach erosion, especially during high tide before sunrise early Tuesday morning.

Expect heights of 20 to 30 feet for north facing shores and 15 to 20 feet on west facing shores.

Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS.

INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl.

Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200.

EVENTS: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH SURF WARNING for NORTH & WEST FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and NORTH FACING SHORES of MAUI, in effect until 6:00 p.m. Monday.

A High Surf Warning indicates that dangerous battering waves will pound the shoreline. This will result in very dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents.

EFFECTS: The northwest swell will continue to build today. Extra large surf is expected along exposed north and west facing shores as this swell peaks today and begins a slow decline later tonight.

Surf for north facing shores will be 20 to 30 feet and 15 to 20 feet today on west facing shores.

Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS.

INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl.

Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200.

EVENTS: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH SURF WARNING for NORTH & WEST NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and NORTH FACING SHORES of MAUI, in effect from noon today to 6:00 p.m. Monday.

A High Surf Warning indicates that dangerous battering waves will pound the shoreline. This will result in very dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents.

EFFECTS: A very large northwest swell will rapidly build from this afternoon through this evening. Extra large surf is expected along exposed north and west facing shores as this swell peaks on Sunday. Warning level surf will remain through Monday night.

Surf for north facing shores will rapidly build to 18 to 22 feet by this evening, then 25 to 35 feet on Sunday. For west facing shores, surf will rapidly build to 14 to 18 feet by this evening, then 20 to 25 feet on Sunday.

Large breaking waves will cause hazardous conditions in the surf zone, including life-threatening rip currents. Surf peak will coincide with 2.2 foot high tide Sunday morning which could produce minor coastal flooding onto low-lying property and coastal roads.

Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS.

INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl.

Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200.

WAILUKU,Maui,Hawai`i– Mayor Alan Arakawa released the following statement after signing the Maui Island Plan into law:

“We now have the framework which will allow us to move forward, striving as always to balance the many current and future needs ofMauiand our people,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “To all of those involved in the process, whether they saw eye to eye on every detail of the plan or not, your efforts are much appreciated. Mahalo again for all of your hard work.”

The Department of Water Supply (DWS) would like to remind the public that the last day to submit any new applications to be placed on the Upcountry priority list for water meters is December 31, 2012. 

Bill 94 (2012) revises Section 14.13.040(A) of the Maui County Code, and the amended section establishes a firm and definitive priority list as of January 1, 2013, with no additions thereafter.  Applicants desiring new or additional water service for premises not on the priority list as of January 1, 2013 would have to wait until all premises on said priority list have been served and/or deleted from the list.

The application to request water service Upcountry is available online at www.mauiwater.org, on the Engineering – Forms page.  Applications may be dropped off at the Engineering Division of the DWS, 200 S. High Street, Kalana O Maui Bldg. 5th Floor in Wailuku, faxed to (808) 270-7833, or mailed in and postmarked no later than December 31, 2012.  Customers with questions may call 270-7835 during working hours.