Sneakerwave — San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California

2020-12-08 · San Francisco Peninsula Coast, California

Event narrative

A woman walking her dog on a beach was knocked over by a sneaker wave and nearly drowned https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/dangerous-surf-sweeps-3-people-out-to-ocean-woman-rescued/. Exact timing and location unknown.

Wider weather episode

A very large long period northwest swell train arrived in early December to the coastline with buoys reporting swells in excess of 20 feet. Mavericks saw breaking waves in the surf zone of approximately 40 feet. Large powerful waves knocked boats loose and damaged docks near Santa Cruz. Multiple water rescues were reported up and down the coast with one assumed fatality.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 927848. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.