Dangerous Sneaker Waves - How to Survive a Sneaker Wave

According to National Weather Service (NWS), West Coast sneaker waves kill more people than all other weather hazards. Many people have been killed and got injured on the Oregon Coast by sneaker waves. Everyone who are visiting the coast needs education about sneaker waves precautions, especially kids and teenagers considering that most victims on the Oregon Coast were 18 or younger.

A sneaker wave, also known as a sleeper wave, is a coastal wave that is disproportionately large and appears without warning. It is similar to a miniature wall of water with an immensely large concentration of sand. These waves are referred to in warning and incident reports along the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. The West Coast of Canada, more specifically Tofino and Ucluelet, experience sneaker waves as well. In Western Australia and Tasmania, Sneaker waves are referred to as King Waves and are likened to rogue waves which are surface waves originating in the middle of the ocean.

The coast of Oregon was recently hit by large sneaker waves.

How do Sneaker Waves Form?

While there is not much scientific inquiry into the phenomena, the epidemiology of sneaker waves (found on the shore) can be related to that of its oceanic cousin, the rogue wave. There does not seem to be a single distinct cause but rather a combination of factors such as high winds, strong currents, or other non-linear effects (e.g. solitons) that results in the occurrence of such a wave.

Constructive Interference

Waves travel at varying speeds, however, under a set of certain circumstances they can add up or 'pile up' to form one large wave that is more massive than any 'average' wave at that time and place. A coincidence of waves and consequent reinforcement give rise to tremendously sized waves that collapse as rapidly as they emerge.

Non-linear effects

This is also known as the instability effect. The idea is that the transfer of energy between waves can cause few extremely large waves to be formed due to the focusing of wave energy.

Why are Sneaker Waves so Dangerous?

While rare, sneaker waves can be phenomenally dangerous; they are hard to predict, appear suddenly with no prior warning or indication and lash out with an exceptional amount of force. The sudden enlargement of the wave can catch unwary swimmers, people walking along the shoreline, and those standing on the beach and jetties, washing them out into the ocean.

Furthermore, the mixture of sand and water is similar to liquid cement that acts as a weighted anchor or even a death shroud. The high concentration of sand in the wave can saturate clothing, thus increasing their weight and consequently yours exponentially. This can weigh you down making any escape almost impossible.

How to Protect Yourself?

How many of you enjoy peaceful walking along a shoreline? Warm beams of sunshine and the distant roars of the ocean really do form the perfect combination, don’t they? Here is the issue though, even at a 20 yards distance from the shoreline, a sneaker wave can creep up on you.

Avoid jetty rocks, mainly during high tide and storms, and when the Beach Hazards Statement is in effect
Supervise your children and pets and stay away from the surf zone
Do not turn your back on the ocean and avoid logs, rocks, and debris
Watch out if an incoming wave swells higher than the previous one
If you see the high wave is coming, move to high ground
Carry a walking stick, umbrella, or another straight object when you walk on the beach
If the sneaker wave comes up, do not panic, plant your walking stick into the sand as deep as possible and hang on until the wave passes
If you are caught by the sneaker wave, swim parallel to the shore until you out of the wave, then swim toward shore.