The threat follows a prior weekend of similarly treacherous surf, marking an unusual back-to-back pattern of high-risk conditions that has coastal residents and visitors on alert. Sneaker waves are particularly feared because they can surge far up beaches without warning, catching beachgoers, anglers and tidepoolers off guard and dragging them into cold, churning water.

Breakers of the size forecast can overtop jetties and sea walls and make rocky shorelines and beaches unsafe even for experienced outdoors enthusiasts. Officials routinely advise staying well back from the waterline, keeping children and pets close, and never turning one's back on the ocean during such events.

The repeated pattern underscores the growing volatility of Pacific Northwest coastal weather, which climate scientists say is being amplified by a warming atmosphere capable of holding more moisture and fueling more intense storm systems. For coastal towns whose economies depend on tourism and fishing, each high-surf weekend carries both safety risks and economic disruption.

Residents and visitors are urged to monitor local forecasts and heed warnings from emergency officials before heading to the shore this weekend.