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The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning to all residents and visitors along California‘s North Coast about life-threatening, unpredictable waves that are expected to continue into Wednesday and the early hours of Thursday.
The NWS is concerned that sneaker waves, which are sudden, large, and powerful wave surges that can strike without warning, sometimes appearing after a period of smaller waves, could pose life-threatening danger to people, even when the ocean appears calm.
Why It Matters
Officials are urging the public along California’s Northern Coast, including popular coastal counties like Coastal Del Norte, Northern Humboldt, Southwestern Humboldt, and the Mendocino Coast, to be extra vigilant as these erratic sneaker waves have the potential to sweep in—without warning—pulling people unexpectedly into the sea from rocks, jetties, and beaches, and moving large objects, like rocks or logs, trapping or crushing people that get caught beneath them.
What To Know
This warning follows similar advisories issued up and down the entire West Coast as hazardous surf conditions continue to threaten public safety. It also follows similar beach hazard warnings that have been issued for the North and Central coast of Oregon, earlier this week, as well as the South Washington coast.
According to the NWS, sneaker waves can often appear, without warning, after around 30 minutes of smaller, calmer waves. The height of these waves is expected to range from 12 to 17 feet, with some locations on the Pacific Coast potentially seeing waves as high as 25 feet.
What People Are Saying
The NWS has issued the following advice to beachgoers: “Don’t be fooled by an ocean that looks calm. There can be 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes. Avoid rocks and jetties. Avoid steep beaches. Stay much farther back from the water and never turn your back on the ocean.”
Earlier this week, the NWS forecast office for the San Francisco Bay Area said on X that “A moderate to long period north-westerly swell will result in breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet and an increased risk for sneaker waves and rip currents.”
What Happens Next
The NWS will continue to monitor ocean conditions, giving regular updates via their official channel at weather.gov. Looking ahead, NWS forecasters are predicting that unsettled weather patterns may continue later into this week, with the possibility of additional storms bringing rainfall and unpredictable coastal conditions.
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