A long period westerly swell brought sneaker wave activity to local area beaches. This raised the threat of being swept away to local jettys and rocks near shore.
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The episode as NWS EKA wrote it up.
A long period westerly swell brought sneaker wave activity to local area beaches. This raised the threat of being swept away to local jettys and rocks near shore.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Eureka, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 1, 3:43 AM PST, 9 hours 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
343 AM PST Sun Dec 1 2024
.SYNOPSIS...The sneaker wave threat continues through Monday. Temperatures
slowly and marginally rise through the week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...High pressure continues to dominate the area, bringing
mostly clear skies aside from some low clouds and fog in some of the
river valleys. Chilly conditions with temperatures in the 30s are
being observed across most of the lower elevations early this
morning. High temperatures also remain chilly as the low sun angle
and strong temperature inversion prevents significant warming in
narrower valleys. Ukiah and Lake County did see temperatures a few
degrees higher yesterday. High temperatures could further
increase into the high 60s and low 70s for the coming days here.
This pattern will likely continue for the coming days as ridging
stays in place through the weekend. A shortwave trough moves
through the Pacific Northwest Thursday, but remains well to our
north and would likely just bring us some cloudiness, if anything.
About 25% of ensemble members are showing the ridge flattening
next weekend, which could bring an end to our dry pattern.
Confidence remains low on potential impacts, if any. JB
&&
.AVIATION...VFR with scattered high clouds are forecast to prevail
at KCEC, KACV and KUKI through the period (12/01/12Z-12/02/12Z).
Very brief mist or haze with reduced vsbys are possible. Nighttime
microphysics product showed fog and low clouds in the river valleys
again early this morning. These LIFR conditions will clear out by
late morning and then reform tonight. DB
&&
.MARINE...Light to moderate northerlies (4 to 16 knots) are forecast
to persist through mid week. Short period northerly wind waves are
forecast to remain under advisory criteria of 6 ft through mid week.
A long period westerly swell (18-20 seconds) arrived overnight. CDIP
buoys overnight indicated 16-18 and 18-22 wave period bands
dominating the spectrum with significant wave heights of 5 to 6 ft
and maximum wave heights near 11 feet. The west swell is forecast to
peak today, probably around 7 ft near 17 seconds. Shorter period
bands (12-14 seconds and 10-12 seconds) may propel significant wave
heights to 8 or 9 ft. The swell is forecast decay tonight through
Tuesday with mid (11-14 seconds) and short period waves (less than 8
seconds) dominating the spectrum Tue-Wed. Forecast uncertainty
increase late week with low potential for moderate northerlies by
Friday. DB
&&
.BEACH HAZARDS...A long period westerly swell group (18-20 seconds)
is forecast to peak to 6 to 8 ft today. This west swell will bring a
high risk for sneaker waves today through Monday. Sudden breaking
waves will likely run-up much farther on the beaches than usual.
Sudden breakers may wash over rocks and jetties and knock you off
your feet or worse pull you into the cold and frigid water. DB
&&
.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
Beach Hazards Statement through Monday afternoon for CAZ101-
103-104-109.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
None.
&&
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For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.pngThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 sneakerwave. Local standard time, as filed.
An NWS employee observing normal set behavior, witnessed sneaker wave activity 7 miles north of Trinidad, CA. Lat. 41.16N, Long. -124.13W.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2024
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1230132.