Rogue wave

This is a impressive wave that hit shore near Grey's Harbor this week.  Not a good day for a winter stroll along the beach.  Rogue waves are part of marine folklore, but they haven't been studied much.  In fact, rogue waves have only recently been accepted as a real phenomenon.

Rogue waves are so dangerous because they are rare, unpredictable, and can hit shore with tremendous force.  In open water, rogue waves can be the height of a 10-story building and suddenly appear during perfectly clear weather. The vertical wall of water is followed by a trough so deep mariners call it a "hole in the sea."