Warning: Risk of Sneaker Waves Today
The National Weather Service in Eureka is warning of a chance of sneaker waves today. “A sneaker wave risk will exist along northwest California area beaches through this evening,” they reported this morning. “Sudden larger waves may occur after periods of smaller waves. This will increase the chance of beach goers be swept into cold ocean water.”
An earlier post by the Weather Service in 2019 described the problem:
Sneaker waves pose a danger to beach goers. Sneaker waves are large waves that seem to come out of nowhere. A sneaker wave can knock you off your feet, and potentially pull you into the ocean where survival is unlikely because of strong currents, turbulent surf, and very cold water. Do not be fooled by an ocean that looks calm. There can be 20 minutes of small waves right before a sneaker wave strikes. Avoid steep beaches, rocks, and jetties. Stay far back from the surf and do not go in after dogs that get pulled into the surf. Dogs almost always get out on their own.
Please take extra care if you visit the ocean today. The North Coast has claimed several victims when a sneaker wave unexpectedly engulfs them and pulls them off the beach.
This video by Marcella Ogata-Day taken at Moonstone Beach shows the deceptive and dangerous behavior of a sneaker wave.
Below are just a few of the tragedies or near tragedies that we here at RHBB remember being caused by rogue waves on the North Coast:
- In late November of 2012, after a wave pulled their dog in to the water, three members of the close-knit Kuljian family lost their lives trying to save the dog and each other.
- In 2018, an HSU student was swept to his death by a sneaker wave off the north Jetty.
- In 2019, a sneaker wave swept a man on vacation to his death in front of his wife and children on his birthday.
- In 2021, two Georgia youths narrowly escaped drowning after a sneaker wave snatched them from rocks at Shelter Cove.
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Thank you for including that video. A picture truly is worth a thousand words!
Jeepers criminy, that was gnarly.
HOLY SHIT! Did they make it out?
Yes. There was a longer video and people came out through the bushes as the water receded.
Very unforgiving the ocean is..
Help me, you can, yes?
That video may save lives.
It’s hard to explain the freaked out feeling that hits you when a sneaker wave comes.
No more eeling at the mouth for 3 of us.
We are alive but wiser
Please stay away from the ocean. Never turn your back to the water, stay off the jetties, keep children and pets away from the wave slope. The sneaker waves are no joke, and they can kill.
The worst story I was told was about when this man’s family was walking with a toddler and a baby in a back carrier. A sneaker wave hit them. The adults were able to hang onto rocks and the man caught the toddler before he was swept away but the baby was lifted out of the carrier and was tumbling in the receding surf when one of those unsung heros in the world swam out and grabbed her. Her eyes and mouth were full of sand, which the doctors at the hospital had to remove. There are any number of such close calls out there that we never hear about.
The last time I was trampled by a sneaker wave, it was like being kicked in the head, socked in the ribs, or run over by a couple vans. I could fila it all over my body. If anyone could’ve me flailing, they’d think I was danskin underwater. At one point, while upside down, I thought I could air walk. As my head popped above water, all I could say was “ugg”. Fortunately, I was able to warn a few friends to get off the beach and up to timberland. I yelled their names, “Merril, Thom McCann, Chuck Taylor” and my dog, “Buster Brown, shoo!!!” I felt beaten to my insole and required a visit to Doc Marten. The whole day was a real sketcher. I have a new balance on life now. I see things ahnu. ‘A’ll ‘D’ay ‘I’ ‘D’ream ‘A’bout ‘S’ea. With my new hi-tec weather device, everything is peachy keen. I can chaco it all up to experience.
You’re a shoe in for the best letterful of puns!
Holy footfalls!…I hope that at least took you awhile. That was extraordinary.
It took a little bit, not too long. Some things come easy, like tying a shoe. Although, I almost put my foot in my mouth a few times. I’m sure nobody can step all over this one. We had a good pun off the other day over the Garberville Bull story. So c’mon nobody, try this one on for size.
Don’t you mean to say, “I almost Puma foot in my mouth”?
: )
DAAAAAMN!!! Was that all you??? If so, that was friggen’ AMAZING!?????
Thank you thank you thank you. You make me feel like I’m walking in heels: all wobbly.
I was at the beach at high tide this morning. The waves were about 75 feet from the dunes but the sand almost to the top of the first dune was washed smooth by a recent wave. I turned back after seeing that.
Great video!