National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have issued weather alerts for nearly the entire western U.S. coastline.
Why It Matters
The widespread weather alerts come a few days in advance of an atmospheric river that’s expected to hit the Pacific Northwest later this week. The current conditions are not caused by the atmospheric river, NWS meteorologist Timothy Daldrup told Newsweek, but both weather events are resulting from strong, westerly flow. The marine impacts are due to steady winds, which cause waves to build and travel across the ocean, prompting coastline alerts.
What to Know
As of Tuesday afternoon, the alerts in place along the West Coast included small craft advisories, high surf advisories, beach hazards statements, hazardous seas warnings, and dense fog advisories, among others.
Several NWS offices along the coast warned of dangerous waves that could injure or even kill beachgoers. For example, the NWS office in Medford, Oregon, warned of a high risk of sneaker waves, which are larger-than-normal swells that strike suddenly and without warning, surging much further up the beach than prior waves.
“Sneaker waves can strike seemingly without warning and have been responsible for numerous deaths in recent years,” the NWS said in a webpage about sneaker waves. “For much of the West Coast, sneaker waves kill more people than all other weather hazards combined.”
Sneaker waves can pull people off their feet and sweep them into the ocean. Injuries can occur when the person scrapes over the rocks. The water is also cold on the West Coast, posing a risk of hypothermia.
In some cases, NWS meteorologists warned people to stay out of the water.
“There is an increased risk for ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea,” NWS Los Angeles said in a high surf advisory. “Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore. Remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions, or stay near occupied lifeguard towers. Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.”
What People Are Saying
NWS Medford in a post on X: “Long period swell may bring sneaker waves to beaches in Curry, Coos, and Douglas counties on Tuesday. These waves can knock you off your feet, both on the beach or a jetty. They can roll or carry rocks and logs. Receding water can carry you to open water. Use extra caution!”
NWS Los Angeles in a high surf advisory: “Large breaking waves of 10 to 15 feet with dangerous rip currents due to a moderate to long period northwest swell. Localized minor coastal flooding and beach erosion possible Wednesday around high tide between 8am and noon.”
What Happens Next
Most of the warnings will remain in effect through Wednesday, with some extending into Thursday. People choosing to visit the beach during the hazardous conditions are urged to remain vigilant, not enter the water, and follow the advice of local weather officials.
