Recent Tragedies Make Current High Wave Warnings Unique

Rip currents are expected to be strong and the risk of sneaker waves sweeping a swimmer back into the ocean are high today as a high surf advisory remains in effect for coastal parts of the Bay Area.

The National Weather Service says large, breaking waves are expected near offshore reefs and sand bars, and safety agencies onshore will be on alert.

Tweets from agencies have been frequent:

“Our ‘heads up’ buoy, buoy 59, is currently reporting 23 ft waves at 16 seconds. Large waves are on their way!” tweets the National Weather Service, Bay Area.

“The waves and clouds are starting to roll into Santa Cruz, Ca. **Stay off the cliffs for your safety**” says another.

But perhaps the most thought-provoking Tweet comes from the County of Santa Cruz, bringing recent sea tragedies in the area to a focus.

*On January 18, two University of California-Santa Cruz students were thrown into the ocean at Bonny Doon Beach by a wave breaking over them as they stood on a large rock outlay.

The body of 19-year-old Shireen Agha Ahsan, from Palo Alto, was found by a bicyclist at Strawberry Beach around 5:30 p.m. Monday, January 25. Her companion, 25-year-old Solaiman Nourzaie of San Jose has not been found.

*On January 20, two BASE jumpers in Monterey County drowned when they jumped off a bridge overlooking Bixby Creek and were swept in the high surf.

Video from a helmet camera found on the beach by authorities shows a woman jumping off the concrete guardrail on the bridge and parachuting to the beach, according to the Monterey Herald.

It shows the woman landing safely, but suddenly being overwhelmed by several large sets of waves.

“As the water retreats back into the ocean, Mary Katherine “Katie” Connell, a Ventura resident and the parachute are not seen retreating back to shore,” Sheriff Steve Bernal told the Herald.

The man safely landed and attempted to save Connel, but was also pulled into the ocean.

*And on January 22, the body of missing surfer and San Rafael resident Dan Dafoe was found at Rodeo beach in Marin County.

Two surfers reported seeing an unconscious man face down in the water at the north end of Rodeo Beach Wednesday and tried to bring him to shore through a 8- to 10-foot surf before all three men were hit by a large wave.

The surfers lost contact with the man they last saw in the water near a cave at the north end of the beach.

-Bay City News contributed to this report; image via Tim Cattera Photo