Sneakerwave — Northern Humboldt Coast, California

2024-10-16 · Northern Humboldt Coast, California

Event narrative

A woman was swept into the Pacific Ocean near the visitor's center at Freshwater Lagoon, 1.5 miles south of Orick, CA. The lady's husband entered the water in an attempt to rescue his wife. They both were caught in the waves and eventually rescued by other people on the beach using a human chain to pull them out of the water. The woman succumbed to her injuries. The man was in stable condition at the time of the incident and survived.

Wider weather episode

A west northwesterly swell system with wave heights 7-10 feet at 16 - 18 seconds brings a moderate sneaker wave threat to northwest California. Large unexpected waves could surprise beachgoers.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1211048. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.