Redwood Coast storm history

Surges in Crescent City harbor caused damage to docks and coastal infrastructure and sank numerous fishing boats. The damage was primarily caused by the high velocity current.

At 9:30 a.m. on January 21, two woman were knocked into the ocean by a sneaker wave. One woman made it back to safety but the other woman died.

A fisherman drowned when his small fishing vessel was capsized by the set behavior of long period waves. The hazard was enhanced by the shoaling of these waves as they entered the shallow water that the vessel was operating in. The waves were 12.5 feet high with a period of 20 se…

A sneaker wave knocked down and pulled into the ocean a 4-year-old girl. Witnesses reported that the girl was high on the dry sand when the unusually large sneaker wave occurred. A 21-year-old women attempted to rescue the girl and both the girl and the woman died in the surf.

A woman was swept to sea at Pelican Beach, 3W Smith River, by large waves as she attempted to rescue her two dogs.

A young boy was swept to sea by large surf while walking on the beach with his parents.

This wind event cause significant damage in Del Norte County and resulted in the declaration of a local emergency. Damage to individual structures totaled 1.32M with 2 structures destroyed and 16 structures with minor or major damage. Damage to public facilities totaled .849M. Hu…

Tsunami surges affected Crescent City Harbor beginning at 1138PST and lasting for several hours. The peak wave height was 5.8 feet as measured trough to peak. No injuries or deaths resulted from this tsunami. Damage was limited to docks and boats in Crescent City Harbor. The dama…

Due to a combination of high astronomical tides and high surf, water and debris washed onto some of the area roads. Known roads impacted were Pebble Beach Drive in Crescent City, Highway 101 south of Crescenty City, and Centerville Beach Road near Ferndale.

A frontal passage brought high winds meeting warning criteria to Crescent City and areas around Humboldt Bay with numerous reports of trees down and power outages. Damage was most widespread from the Arcata Bottoms to Blue Lake.

The Crescent City ASOS reported a gust to 64 mph. Law enforcement reported a large limb of a Redwood tree fell on a Humboldt State University residence hall. This caused damage to the third floor of the building. They also reported numerous trees were blown down.

The Crescent City ASOS reported a gust to 66 mph. Law enforcement reported a few 3-4 foot diameter Redwood trees were blown down across Highway 199. They also reported that several other trees nearby were blown down.

The Crescent City ASOS reported a gust to 58 MPH. There were numerous power outages and trees blown down.

A gust front struck two structures, including a local TV station, on the Humboldt County coast causing roofs to be torn off and some additional structural damage. Transmission equipment for the TV station was damaged.

High winds beginning early in the morning on December 27 knocked down trees resulting in power outages fro 23,000 customers in Humboldt County. The same winds sank a 55 foot fishing boat at the dock. High speed internet service was also damaged.

High winds downed trees and power poles

innundation of King Salmon area occured

Minor flooding along the Eel river and Eel river delta. Some road closures and power outages.

Eel River at Fernbridge crested at 20.3 feet - Flood stage 20 feet.

Minor coastal flooding around Humboldt Bay and near Crescent City.

Mad River at Arcata crested at 22.4 feet - flood stage 22 feet.

Eel River at Fernbridge crested at 21.3 feet - flood stage 20 feet.

Eel River at Fernbridge crested at 22.2 feet - flood stage 20 feet.

A man climbing on rocks was knocked down by waves. He fell 8 feet onto other rocks receiving minor injuries.