Rogue Wave

On the west coast, locals know to expect the unexpected in matters marine. Rogue waves, disproportionately large, can rise out of a pattern of seemingly innocuous small seas. Sometimes they’re referred to as the ninth wave, but I don’t know if there’s any science to this. Still, visitors to coastal beaches should keep their eyes to the water and be ready to run to higher ground and off rocky headlands when an unexpected rogue wave quickly overtakes areas thought to be safe.