The National Weather Service is warning of an increased risk of sneaker waves on the Coast Saturday and Sunday.
The warning extends from Long Beach, Washington to Florence, Oregon.
A sneaker wave is the first wave of a set of larger waves that follows a period of relatively calm ocean conditions.
The hazard caused by a sneaker wave is not necessarily related to the size of the surf, but the relative size of the water running up the beach. The period of calm preceding a sneaker wave causes beach goers to inaccurately assess the hazard, leading to behavior that places them in danger, such as getting too close to the surf.
Sneaker waves are capable of quickly pulling a person into the ocean leaving them susceptible to rip currents, hypothermia, cold water paralysis, and drowning. They can also move large logs
littered on beaches, possibly hitting or rolling over unsuspecting beach goers.
An increase of beach goers is expected this spring break weekend, and more people may be susceptible to the risk. If you witness someone caught by a sneaker wave, do not become another victim by attempting a rescue. Stay calm and call 911. If you are pulled into the ocean by a sneaker wave, try to remain calm, control your breathing, and remove yourself from the water as soon as you can.