High Surf
Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties. Every one the National Weather Service has filed, by year and by state, with the deadliest and costliest.
The deadliest and costliest on the map
The deadliest and costliest high surf episodes on record.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 10,650
- Deaths
- 326
- Injuries
- 406
- Damage
- $326 million
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Deaths each year
The deadliest
Deaths from this kind of event within each episode.
- High Surf in Guam, June 29, 2004After five men went out into the waters off Piti in three kayaks, heavy surf overturned the kayaks. Two bodies were later recovered, and the other three are presumed drowned.
- High Surf in California, July 14, 2010Low pressure over the Pacific Ocean caused a six to eight foot swell to travel into the coastal waters of California. Breaking waves occurred near the shore causing hazardous surf in some locations, including the waters north of Point Reyes.
- High Surf in Hawaii, January 30 to 31, 1997Several low pressure centers moving across the north central Pacific generated swell that produced surf of 8 to 12 feet with occasional sets to 15 feet along the north and west facing shores of the islands.
- High Surf in New York, June 15, 2002As a low pressure system developed southeast of Long Island, northeast winds increased to 20 to 25 knots and seas built to around 8 feet, which was measured by Buoy 44025 (about 20 miles south of Fire Island Inlet).A 25 foot pleasure boat named "Eleni II" left Jones Inlet at…
- High Surf in Oregon, December 13 to 16, 2006Heavy swell brought high surf to the Southern Oregon coast on these days. A High Surf Warning was in effect for Oregon zone ORZ021 from 13/1819 PST until 15/1540 PST, and for Oregon zone ORZ022 from 14/1600 PST until 15/1540 PST.
- High Surf in Hawaii, January 11 to 16, 2019A swell from a powerful low far northwest of the Aloha State caused surf of 20 to 35 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and along the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; 10 to 20 feet along the west-facing shores of Oahu and Molokai;…
- High Surf in California, December 2 to 6, 2007During a 4 day period from December 2nd through December 5th, 2007 - high surf battered the coast of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas with wave heights up to 25 feet. Two separate accidents resulted in the deaths of three people.
- High Surf in California, November 26 to 27, 2009Large swells began to affect the coast on Thanksgiving Day causing the surf to increase through Saturday. Wave heights at the beaches of 14 to 18 feet accompany these large swells.
- Coastal Flood and High Surf in California, December 23 to 30, 2024Long duration high surf caused damage across Monterey Bay and resulted in numerous attempted water rescues on December 23. Around 1244 PST, around 150 feet of the Santa Cruz wharf collapsed and fell into Monterey Bay.
- High Surf in Washington, February 12, 1997Three Coast Guard crew men were killed when their boat overturned in rough seas. They were on a search and rescue mission off the Quillayute River Bar when their boat capsized throwing all four of the crew overboard. One survived.
- High Surf in Florida, November 11, 2003Strong winds and large northeast swells impacted the southeast Florida coast. A 17' boat was found capsized in the Atlantic in Boca Raton with the bodies of three black males found nearby.
- High Surf in New York, May 18, 2003On May 18th, 2003 at around 11:30 am EDT, a 22-foot boat capsized in rough seas about 1/4 mile west off Moriches Inlet resulting in 3 deaths.An unusually strong high pressure system over New England combined with a weak low pressure system well east of the Southern Mid Atlantic…
- High Surf in California, June 7, 2004Between 8 am and 7 pm a boat was sunk after being struck by a series of waves. The nearest buoy (46027) reported wave heights of 6.9 to 8.5 feet at 11 seconds. One female survivor swam to a near by off shore rock and spent the night.
- High Surf in Oregon, May 9, 20063 fatalities were recorded when a 16 foot boat capsized near the Coos Bay south jetty. It was struck by two waves, the second capsized the vessel. The victims were not wearing life jackets and the water temperature was 52 degrees.
- High Surf in Hawaii, October 12 to 14, 2008A deep low far north of the area generated surf of 12 to 18 feet along the north-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui; and 8 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai. Three individuals died as a direct result from the high surf.
- High Surf in Guam, January 6 to 11, 2014Strong Storms off east of Japan and north of the Marianas generated large swells|across Guam. This resulted in several water related fatalities.
- High Surf in Oregon, January 19, 2016The 40.1 feet Eagle III commercial crab fishing vessel collided with the Coos Bay north jetty and capsized around 830 pm on 1/19/2016. The vessel had left Charleston, OR but was registered in Port Orford, OR. There were 4 people on board.
- High Surf in Oregon, January 8, 2019Seas were building ahead of a frontal system approaching on Tuesday night. Seas were up around 12 to 14 feet in the Yaquina Bay Bar when the boat the Mary B II tried to cross. Three fisherman died.
- High Surf in California, January 3, 2021A long period west to northwest swell impacted the coastline in early January with breaking waves 20 to 25 feet, locally to 30 feet, forecast. On Sunday January 3rd a family of four was pulled into the ocean at Blind Beach in Sonoma County by a large wave.
- Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, February 9 to 11, 2026A large, long-period northwest to northerly swell impacted the Atlantic waters and local passages of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from February 9 through February 11, 2026.
- High Surf in California, May 23, 2010A typical Spring time day brought sea conditions of six to eight foot waves and west to northwest winds of 20 gusting to 30 knots to the San Francisco coastline.
- High Surf in American Samoa, June 15, 2020A strong high pressure system to the south of the islands delivered fresh to strong trades over the territory. This episode enhanced steep seas of 12 to 15 feet.
- Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, December 27 to 29, 2009A deep and slow moving low pressure system across the north central Atlantic generated large swells which began affecting Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands late in the day on Saturday December 26th, 2009.
- High Surf in California, March 12, 1996Crab boat Ocean Gypsy was found by US Coast Guard helicopter in the surf of Mad River Beach. The two fishermen on board were missing and presumed lost (one body was eventually found). The exact time of the incident cannot be determined but occured between 0700 PST and 1430 PST.
- High Surf in Oregon, October 25 to 26, 2021A storm system over the northeast Pacific generated large waves that moved to the Oregon and Washington coasts.
The costliest
Damage from this kind of event within each episode, in the dollars of its year.
- Flooding and Coastal Flood in New Jersey, October 28 to 31, 2012
- High Surf in California, August 26 to 27, 2014
- Coastal Flood and High Surf in New York, March 12 to 15, 2010
- Tropical Storm and Tropical Depression in Florida, October 6 to 7, 2016
- Flooding and Hail in California, January 20 to 21, 2010
- Coastal Flood and High Surf in New York, November 13 to 15, 2009
- Flood and High Surf in Guam, October 10 to 15, 2013
- Flooding and Coastal Flood in California, December 14 to 16, 2016
- Storm Surge and Flash Flood in Alabama, November 9 to 10, 2009
- Rip Current and High Surf in Florida, October 1 to 2, 2007
- Coastal Flood and High Surf in Alaska, July 29 to 31, 2008
- Coastal Flood and High Wind in New Jersey, November 11 to 14, 2009
- High Surf in Washington, November 15, 2020
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in New Jersey, September 18 to 20, 2003
- High Surf in American Samoa, May 17 to 26, 2003
- Coastal Flood and High Surf in Puerto Rico, March 19 to 20, 2008
- High Surf and Strong Wind in American Samoa, July 3 to 7, 2021
- High Surf in Oregon, September 19 to 20, 2005
- High Surf in Puerto Rico, March 6 to 7, 2017
- High Surf in Guam, February 28, 2023
- High Surf in Hawaii, August 9 to 11, 2025
- High Surf in Oregon, June 14, 2003
- High Surf in Oregon, January 26, 2016
- High Surf in Florida, April 6 to 9, 2008
- High Surf in California, June 23, 1999
By state
| State or waters | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 9,299 | 45 | 73 | $1.2 million |
| California | 505 | 97 | 142 | $70 million |
| Florida | 157 | 29 | 24 | $31 million |
| Oregon | 132 | 29 | 9 | $2.2 million |
| New Jersey | 115 | 8 | 11 | $130 million |
| American Samoa | 113 | 10 | 8 | $5.4 million |
| Puerto Rico | 67 | 26 | 18 | $4.7 million |
| South Carolina | 38 | 1 | 0 | $379,000 |
| New York | 35 | 10 | 0 | $49 million |
| Alaska | 28 | 0 | 0 | $7.3 million |
| Delaware | 24 | 0 | 66 | $100,000 |
| Guam | 22 | 25 | 22 | $11 million |
| North Carolina | 17 | 8 | 0 | |
| Georgia | 15 | 0 | 0 | $18,000 |
| Texas | 13 | 5 | 9 | |
| Maine | 13 | 2 | 14 | $304,000 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 11 | 4 | 0 | $25,000 |
| Washington | 10 | 4 | 0 | $5.0 million |
| Alabama | 8 | 1 | 0 | $8.1 million |
| Rhode Island | 6 | 6 | 0 | $500 |
| Illinois | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Minnesota | 3 | 3 | 0 | $200,000 |
| Virginia | 2 | 1 | 1 | $80,000 |
| Maryland | 2 | 0 | 0 | $30,000 |
| Indiana | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Every kind of event
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Hail
- Flash Flood
- High Wind
- Winter Storm
- Drought
- Winter Weather
- Tornado
- Heavy Snow
- Flood
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind
- Heat
- Heavy Rain
- Strong Wind
- Excessive Heat
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Lightning
- Dense Fog
- Blizzard
- Frost/Freeze
- Ice Storm
- High Surf
- Funnel Cloud
- Wildfire
- Tropical Storm
- Waterspout
- Coastal Flood
- Lake-Effect Snow
- Debris Flow
- Hurricane (Typhoon)
- Dust Storm
- Rip Current
- Storm Surge/Tide
- Marine High Wind
- Sleet
- Avalanche
- Marine Hail
- Astronomical Low Tide
- Marine Tropical Storm
- Tropical Depression
- Freezing Fog
- Lakeshore Flood
- Dust Devil
- Marine Strong Wind
- Dense Smoke
- Marine Hurricane/Typhoon
- Volcanic Ashfall
- Seiche
- Sneakerwave
- Volcanic Ash
- Tsunami
- Marine Tropical Depression
- Marine Dense Fog
- Northern Lights
- Marine Lightning
- Hurricane
Sources
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.