The National Weather Service has issued a Beach Hazard Statement for the Monterey Bay and Big Sur coast because there is an increased chance for Sneaker Waves tomorrow and Friday.
According to Wikipedia, a sneaker wave, also known as sleeper wave, or (in Australia) a king wave is a disproportionately large coastal wave that can sometimes appear in a wave train without warning.
Because they are much larger than preceding waves, sneaker waves can catch unwary swimmers, washing them out to sea. It is not uncommon for people walking or standing on beaches and ocean jetties to also be washed into the sea.
The NWS advisory goes is effective from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.
People walking near the beach are always warned to never turn their back to the sea. NWS says fishermen are asked to avoid rocks and jetties because of the high wave risk.
