Sneaker waves pose danger as Oregon Coast prepares for king tides this weekend
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – As the Oregon Coast braces itself for a final round of king tides this season, beachgoers should also be on the lookout for sneaker waves.
The National Weather Service warns that these deadly waves can surprise beachgoers by “running up on the beach significantly farther than other waves.” And when they take place at the same time as the king tides, they can be especially dangerous.
King tides take place when the alignment of the sun and moon combine to add extra gravitational pull on the Earth, causing its oceans to swell, but sneaker waves can occur at any time on the Oregon Coast without warning.
Sneaker waves are especially concerning when they come with the possibility of sweeping people into icy water. A sudden immersion into such cold water can be deadly.
This weekend, starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, a third round of unseasonably high tides will bring more coastal flooding and hazardous beach conditions to Oregon and Washington. King tides are expected to swamp the coast from Jan. 11 through Jan. 13.
Those visiting the shoreline are strongly encouraged to avoid jetties, headlands and ocean logs.
“Logs on the beach are wet, extremely heavy, and can weigh hundreds of pounds. Yet a single sneaker wave can lift and roll these logs further up the beach, as well as roll them back down the beach, knocking over or pinning unsuspecting beachgoers,” the NWS previously told KOIN 6 News.
In mid-December, a 72-year-old Oregon man went missing after leaving his home to photograph the king tides. His body was later found in the Haynes Inlet in Coos County on Jan. 5.
Photos and video taken during this year’s king tides also show how powerful these seasonal ocean swells can be.
For a list of safe places to view the king tides, check out our previous coverage.