Sneakerwave
An unexpectedly large wave that surged far up a beach and swept people or objects away. 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 sneakerwave 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
- 73
- Deaths
- 30
- Injuries
- 18
- Damage
- $100,000
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.
- Sneakerwave in California, December 28, 2012A 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, June 30, 2013Four 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, October 12, 2014High surf and dangerous beach conditions were present during the weekend of October 11-12. Several rescues took place at area beaches.
- Sneakerwave in Oregon, January 15, 2017Two people were swept into the ocean by a sneaker wave at 15/1300 PST. The 31 year old male and his 3 year old son have not been found as of 31/0800 PST. The beach on which they were walking had a steep angle to the water and the seas were reported to be rough.
- Sneakerwave in Oregon, September 9, 2018A couple and their young daughter took a trail down to rocks which overlook the ocean. A large wave washed over the rocks and swept the couple off the rocks and into the ocean. Both were taken to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.
- Sneakerwave in California, July 16, 2024A 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, 2025A 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.
- Coastal Flood and Sneakerwave in Oregon, January 17 to 18, 2018A strong stationary low pressure system off the British Columbia coast brought impressively high seas into the Oregon Coast. Wave heights up to 37 feet were recorded at buoys off the coast, with top one-tenth wave heights up to 45 feet.
- Sneakerwave in California, January 1, 2013On 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, October 26, 2014High 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, November 11, 2014High 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, 2014Hazardous 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, February 28, 2015Hazardous surf conditions claimed a life on a beach in Monterey County due to sneaker waves.
- Sneakerwave in California, February 24, 2016A 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.
- Sneakerwave in Oregon, March 25, 2017A 14 year old female died of injuries sustained when a sneaker wave caused a log to roll onto her.
- Sneakerwave in California, March 22, 2019A long period swell result in wave set behavior along the Northwest California coastline in late March.
- Sneakerwave in California, November 16, 2019A woman fell into the water at Garrapata Beach while taking selfies and was swept out to sea.
- Sneakerwave in Oregon, January 15, 2021A woman and her two dogs appear to have been caught by a sneaker wave on Friday afternoon.
- Sneakerwave in California, May 16, 2021A 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.
- Storm Surge and Sneakerwave in California, May 29, 2022A modest swell brought some larger waves to the coast. This was not a large event, nor unusual.
- Sneakerwave in California, October 16, 2024A 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 Oregon, October 19, 2025A person was knocked off of their feet by a sneaker wave while walking on the beach near the mouth of Siletz Bay. They were then swept out to sea by a rip current.
- Sneakerwave in California, December 3, 2025A 32-year old man died after drowning off Bean Hollow State Beach in southern San Mateo County.
The costliest
Damage from this kind of event within each episode, in the dollars of its year.
By state
| State or waters | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 51 | 8 | 2 | |
| California | 21 | 22 | 15 | |
| Texas | 1 | 0 | 1 | $100,000 |
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.