Beach Hazards Hit Both Coasts
The National Weather Service extended beach hazard statements for Southern California and Oregon through February 18, warning of dangerous surf, strong rip currents, and possible sneaker waves. In Florida, Fort Pierce commissioners declined to extend a state of emergency despite ongoing beach erosion, with sand replacement efforts continuing at Jetty Park and South Hutchinson Island.
- In Southern California, the hazardous conditions included large breaking waves of 6 to 9 feet. - The sneaker wave threat in Oregon is attributed to a long-period swell generated by large, distant storms in the Pacific Ocean. Sneaker waves are particularly dangerous on the West Coast due to its abrupt coastal drop-offs, which allow these long waves to arrive with significant force. - In Fort Pierce, a prior state of emergency was declared on February 10, 2026, after severe erosion left some homes with less than 30 feet of beach and threatened infrastructure like State Road A1A. - An emergency project dumped 10,000 cubic yards of sand near Jetty Park as a temporary measure, costing approximately $429,880. For comparison, a previous emergency project in April saw 95,000 cubic yards of sand wash away within seven months. - A much larger federal beach renourishment project, intended to place about 400,000 cubic yards of sand, was delayed until at least March due to mechanical failures on dredging equipment. - The severe erosion in Fort Pierce is being accelerated by a series of harsh winters with multiple cold fronts and extended periods of strong winds. - One Fort Pierce homeowner reported that a 40-foot dock attached to his house was washed away by the erosion, prompting his family to prepare for evacuation. - Experts warn that sneaker waves can surge much farther up the beach than normal waves, sometimes as much as 150 feet, and can carry logs or other debris.
