Bomb cyclone off the Pacific US coast creates 60-FOOT waves from Oregon to California

Bomb cyclone off the Pacific US coast creates 60-FOOT waves from Oregon to California

  •  A bomb cyclone and atmosphere river brought heave rains and high winds to the US Pacific coast last month that created monster waves
  • The 60ft wave was measured by a buoy off the coast of Astoria Oregon 
  • Other buoys along the coast captured waves from 30 to 50ft tall 


A perfect storm created 60-foot waves along the cost of Oregon and down into northern California last month.

On October 25, a bomb cyclone and atmosphere river brought heave rains and high winds to the US Pacific coast, resulting in the monster waves that were measured by a buoy off the coast of Oregon – the largest since data collecting began in 2011.

A majority of the measurements showed most of the waves were at least 30 to 50 feet tall along the coast.

A resident of Newport California, who goes by the name ‘Dingo’, did not witness the giant 60-foot-wave, but told DailyMail.com in an interview: ‘The waves were pretty massive and when you combined the size with the stormy conditions it made it a very challenging day for the surfers.

‘Looking out with the naked eye and seeing a small blip on the face of the wave and then realizing that it was a big jet ski and not a surfer was crazy! You could actually hear the loud thunderous roar of the waves on the walk along the harbor before you could even see the waves.’ 

 

A perfect storm created 60-foot waves along the cost of Oregon and down into northern California last month. On October 25, a bomb cyclone and atmosphere river brought heave rains and high winds to the US Pacific coast

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego uses buoys in the Pacific to measure waves coming into the shore.

According to the Los Angeles Times, 60-foot wave was captured by No. 179 buoy located off the coast of Astoria, Oregon. 

No. 29 Point Reyes buoy, located in 1,805 feet of water 25 miles west of Point Reyes, recorded a significant wave height of 30.6 feet on October 25 when the storms rolled in. 

Other buoys along the coast capture wave heights of almost  30 feet, with a maximum individual wave height of 50 feet. 

A majority of the measurements showed most of the waves were at least 30 to 50 feet tall along the coast. A resident of Newport California, who goes by the name ‘Dingo ', did not witness the giant 60-foot-wave, but told DailyMail.com in an interview: ‘The waves were pretty massive and when you combined the size with the stormy conditions it made it a very challenging day for the surfers

A majority of the measurements showed most of the waves were at least 30 to 50 feet tall along the coast. A resident of Newport California, who goes by the name ‘Dingo ‘, did not witness the giant 60-foot-wave, but told DailyMail.com in an interview: ‘The waves were pretty massive and when you combined the size with the stormy conditions it made it a very challenging day for the surfers

‘Looking out with the naked eye and seeing a small blip on the face of the wave and then realizing that it was a big jet ski and not a surfer was crazy,' he said. 'You could actually hear the loud thunderous roar of the waves on the walk along the harbor before you could even see the waves.’

‘Looking out with the naked eye and seeing a small blip on the face of the wave and then realizing that it was a big jet ski and not a surfer was crazy,’ he said. ‘You could actually hear the loud thunderous roar of the waves on the walk along the harbor before you could even see the waves.’

Bomb cyclones occur when  a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies and drops at least 24 millibars over 24 hours. 

A millibar measures atmospheric pressure. 

‘This can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, such as air over warm ocean waters, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

‘The formation of this rapidly strengthening weather system is a process called bombogenesis, which creates what is known as a bomb cyclone.’

Satellite images of the two weather events show the bomb cyclone moving toward the north in a swirl, while the atmospheric river came rushing up through northern California.  

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego uses buoys (green)  in the Pacific to measure waves coming into the shore. Pictured is Astoria, Oregon where the 60ft wave was measured

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego uses buoys (green)  in the Pacific to measure waves coming into the shore. Pictured is Astoria, Oregon where the 60ft wave was measured

The all-time record low pressure system, the bomb cyclone, formed in the eastern Pacific and strengthened rapidly on October 24, generating hurricane force winds and wave heights up to 45 feet off the coast of Washington and Oregon. 

NOAA says ‘wind gusts toppled trees and knocked out power around the Seattle metro area and Puget Sound.’  

On Monday, October 25, the bomb cyclone reached northern California where ‘Dingo’ captured the massive waves form out in the ocean, along with surfers brave enough to ride them into shore. 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk