Sneakerwave in California

Events

21

Deaths

22

Injuries

15

Damage

None recorded

• Sneakerwave in California, October 12, 20142 deaths · 3 injured · 2 eventsHigh surf and dangerous beach conditions were present during the weekend of October 11-12. Several rescues took place at area beaches.
• Storm Surge and Sneakerwave in California, May 29, 20222 deaths · 2 injured · 2 eventsA modest swell brought some larger waves to the coast. This was not a large event, nor unusual.
• Sneakerwave in California, June 30, 20132 deaths · 2 injured · 1 eventFour people were swept into the ocean at Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz County due to Sneaker Waves. Two men were rescued by a USCG helicopter. Two women died as a result of drowning.
• Sneakerwave in California, December 28, 20122 deaths · 1 eventA large, long period swell impacted the California coastline for two days from December 28-29. A pair of fishermen were killed during the event from a sneaker wave which washed them off the rocks they were fishing on.
• Sneakerwave in California, July 16, 20242 deaths · 1 eventA sneaker wave killed a couple from San Jose who were standing along West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. The couple stood on a rock to take pictures when the wave hit the rock. A rescue swimmer pulled the victims onto a boat, but was unable to revive the couple.
• Sneakerwave in California, January 19, 20252 deaths · 1 eventA father and son from San Jose perished at Cowell Ranch State Beach near Half Moon Bay after the son was swept into the ocean by a sneaker wave. State park lifeguards and rangers responded to the water rescue and pulled the two into a Harbor Patrol vessel.
• Sneakerwave in California, February 24, 20161 death · 4 injured · 1 eventA period of high surf conditions impacted the beaches of Southern California. In Redondo Beach, 4 people were swept off a jetty by a sneaker wave. Three of the individuals were injured and one died.
• High Surf and Sneakerwave in California, December 8, 20201 death · 1 injured · 5 eventsA 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.
• Sneakerwave in California, October 26, 20141 death · 1 injured · 1 eventHigh surf and dangerous beach conditions occurred at area beaches over the weekend of October 25-26. Two beachgoers were swept into the sea and one did not survive.
• Sneakerwave in California, February 28, 20151 death · 1 injured · 1 eventHazardous surf conditions claimed a life on a beach in Monterey County due to sneaker waves.
• Sneakerwave in California, October 16, 20241 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA 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.
• Sneakerwave in California, January 1, 20131 death · 1 eventOn January 1, long period swell from the Pacific created hazardous beach conditions in the area with sneaker waves and large breaking surf.
• Sneakerwave in California, November 11, 20141 death · 1 eventHigh surf and dangerous beach conditions were observed across the area on Veteran's Day with one fatality from a sneaker wave.
• Sneakerwave in California, January 20, 20141 death · 1 eventHazardous conditions occurred along beaches of the Bay Area on January 20th due to an incoming long period swell. One man was killed when he drowned near Pt. Reyes.
• Sneakerwave in California, March 22, 20191 death · 1 eventA long period swell result in wave set behavior along the Northwest California coastline in late March.
• Sneakerwave in California, November 16, 20191 death · 1 eventA woman fell into the water at Garrapata Beach while taking selfies and was swept out to sea.
• Sneakerwave in California, May 16, 20211 death · 1 eventA man died after being swept out into the ocean on the 16th along with two children. They were in front of the River Mouth at Santa Cruz Beach when they were swept out to sea. The children were rescued, but the man did not survive.
• Sneakerwave in California, December 3, 20251 death · 1 eventA 32-year old man died after drowning off Bean Hollow State Beach in southern San Mateo County.
• Sneakerwave in California, May 29, 20261 injured · 1 eventAt approximately 1pm on May 29th, a fisherman was hit by a sneaker wave at SF's Baker Beach in the Presidio. Three rescue swimmers from the fire dept. reached the fisherman who was unconscious and not breathing.
• Sneakerwave in California, December 1, 20241 eventA 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.

Sneakerwave everywhereEvery kind of event in California

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.