Surfers especially like this kind of weather unless the waves aren't breaking right. But, the people most likely to die from these kinds of sneaker waves are tourists who don't know about coastal Flood advisories who get too far out on rocks where they cannot move away from the ocean fast.
I myself as a pretty much life long California Coastal person since 1952 have been caught in the last 10 years or so several times when I turned my back to the ocean for one moment.
The First time I was walking with my dogs and one dog who loves the water (a yellow lab) was pulled out into the ocean but luckily I held him closer to shore on a long leash. Our Corgi at the time was already scared of the ocean so she ran the other way and was okay. I had water up to my waist and could barely fight the pull out into the ocean.
Another time I was with my oldest daughter then in her 20s and suddenly she said: "Dad! There's a sneaker wave coming climb that 4 foot high rock to save yourself as she ran inland on the beach. So, I quickly climbed the rock because I couldn't move as fast as her but even on a 4 foot high rock the water still came up to my waist and I was surprised.
So, if you are a tourist not used to winter sneaker waves fatalities often happen this far north because of how the waves and weather tend to hit. Also, Mavericks where waves break often above 20 feet high year around can be dangerous this time of year too for surfers who think they are better than they are at surfing.
Also, a 1.2 high Tide Doesn't seem like much until you realize that you are going to have a 22 foot sneaker wave possible on top of this at many different locations from San Francisco down to the Monterey Bay. So, stay away from the ocean unless you are watching it like a hawk looking for sneaker waves. Then if you see one run away from it as quickly as possible. You cannot get away from these waves if you are up on rocks so this is something to think about too.
begin quotes:
* WHAT...For the Coastal Flood Advisory, up to 1.2 ft of
inundation above ground level is possible in low lying areas
near shorelines and tidal waterways. For the Beach Hazards
Statement, a long period westerly swell will result in an
increased risk for sneaker waves, rip currents, and breaking
waves of 14 to 19 feet with the highest waves up to 22 feet in
favored locations.
* WHERE...San Francisco and Monterey Bay.
* WHEN...For the Coastal Flood Advisory, until 2 PM PST
Saturday. For the Beach Hazards Statement, from late Wednesday
night through Thursday evening.
* IMPACTS...Sneaker waves can unexpectedly run significantly
farther up the beach than normal, including over rocks and
jetties. Rip currents are typically more frequent and stronger
in the vicinity of jetties, inlets, and piers. Flooding of
lots, parks, and roads with only isolated road closures
expected.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...At the San Francisco tidal gauge high
tide is expected to be 1.0 ft above normal (6.9 ft MLLW) at
10:18 AM Wednesday, 1.2 ft above normal (7.0 ft MLLW) at 10:58
AM Thursday, 1.1 ft above normal (7.0 ft MLLW) at 11:42 AM
Friday, and 0.9 ft above normal (6.7 ft MLLW) at 12:31 PM
Saturday. High tide timing varies up to 90 minutes earlier or
later along the coast and throughout the Bay respectfully.
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