Storms, king tide, and dangerous sneaker waves were predicted at Cape Disappointment this past Monday, so naturally I had to go there. There is a sense of awe and power, but the danger is masked by the cheerful blue of the skies, and by the crystalline jade and glistening pearl of the waves. It's these cheerful conditions that can fool people into thinking all is well, but they get swept away by "sneaker waves" - a large wave that appears without warning.
All of the waves were higher than normal during the days I was there due to a phenomenon called "king tide" (or perigean spring tide). The king tide is the highest high tide of the year, and it occurs when the sun, moon, and earth are positioned in such a way that their respective gravitational pulls cause the tides to go far beyond the normal high water mark.
This year, king tide was Monday through Wednesday of this past week. The storms on Monday provided winds, dark clouds, and drama. The blue skies on Wednesday allowed the colors and beauty of the ocean waves to shine through.
I hope you enjoy looking at the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!
All of the waves were higher than normal during the days I was there due to a phenomenon called "king tide" (or perigean spring tide). The king tide is the highest high tide of the year, and it occurs when the sun, moon, and earth are positioned in such a way that their respective gravitational pulls cause the tides to go far beyond the normal high water mark.
This year, king tide was Monday through Wednesday of this past week. The storms on Monday provided winds, dark clouds, and drama. The blue skies on Wednesday allowed the colors and beauty of the ocean waves to shine through.
I hope you enjoy looking at the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!
