I think "freak" wave pretty much implies unpredictable. One of the
favorite games of local teenagers at the SJCR is to stand in a place
called the gap (a spot in the jetty where 50 years of storms have
blown a hole) and wait for storms to crash over them. They seem to
squeal and laugh a lot at this.

Not all jetties are the same. The SJCR is over 5 miles long (3 of
which have water on both sides. It is about 10 meters across and in
a 10 ft high tide is still 3-4 meters above the water level. The
NJCR is similarly constructed (though only about 3 miles long (1+ of
that with water on both sides). Both of these jetties are of sufficient
size that one probably only has to worry about extreme waves in severe
storms or during a tsunami. I believe the greater danger is falling
and breaking some body part. This is especially likely if tired.

I do not spend much time on the jetties except during the summer and
early fall, however. I watch from the observation deck on other occasions.

But not all jetties are built to control outflow from large commercial
rivers 4 miles across. The jetty at Chinook Boat Basin for example...
very dangerous. The Barview Jetty at the North end of Tillamook Bay is
scary.

>
>Mike,
>I pondered this question for quite a while and I have no clue as to how to
>predict these freak waves other than they're probably more likely during
>rough seas. I'm putting it on tweeters because I'm curious to see if other
>people have ideas and or knowledge that could help the rest of us. So
>anybody on tweeters that might know how to predict these freakish waves or
>places to get the info, maybe we can get a discussion going?
>
>Scott Downes
>sdownes at u.washington.edu
>Seattle WA
>
>On Fri, 22 Aug 1997, Michael Price wrote:
>
>> Scott
>>
>> How about these out-of-nowhere 'freak' waves that catch people off-guard on
>> oceanic jetties? Any way to predict or prepare for one?
>>
>> M
>>
>>
>
>
>

--
********************************* I am but mad north-north-west;
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * when the wind is southerly,
* mpatters at orednet.org * I know a hawk from a handsaw.
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters -ws