Sneaker wave threat prompts beach hazards statement for Del Norte coast Thursday night through Friday

The National Weather Service in Eureka has issued a beach hazards statement for coastal Del Norte County, warning of an increased threat of sneaker waves from Thursday evening through Friday evening.

The statement, issued Wednesday at 8:51 p.m., takes effect at 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, and runs through midnight Friday, Nov. 6. It also covers Northern Coastal Humboldt, Southwestern Humboldt and Coastal Mendocino counties.

Sneaker waves are large, unexpected waves that can sweep across the beach without warning, according to the Weather Service. They can sweep people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches, and can move large objects such as logs, crushing anyone caught underneath.

“Don’t be fooled by an ocean that looks calm,” the statement says. “There can be 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes.”

Forecasters advise beachgoers to avoid rocks, jetties and steep beaches, to stay much farther back from the water and to never turn their back on the ocean.

Current alerts for the area are posted at weather.gov/eka.