Bomb cyclone generated record-challenging waves that towered off of California coast

In the aftermath of an intense storm, collected data shows the system generated waves that reached heights usually more typical in the open ocean within just 30 miles of the shore.

The bomb cyclone that slammed into Northern California's coast Thanksgiving week generated some of the largest waves recorded by Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) buoys.

A satellite image showing the record 'bomb cyclone' making its final approach late Tuesday, Nov. 26 night along the west coast of the U.S. (NOAA)

(NOAA)

On Wednesday, Nov. 27, a CDIP buoy within 30 miles off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California, recorded the significant wave height of 43.1 feet. To put that into perspective, that's about the height of a 4-story building.

The tallest of these waves was 74.4 feet – making for a nearly 7-story wave.

Data from the CDIP buoy shows the recording of a significant wave height of 43.1 feet on Nov. 27. (Image/CDIP)

The storm and an area of high pressure off the West Coast had generated strong winds of hurricane strength, AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyson Hoegg said.

"This storm set low-pressure records across Northern California and Oregon," Hoegg said. "Strong winds helped generate large waves off the California coast. While waves of this magnitude typically occur in the open ocean, it is possible for large waves to occur closer to the coast as a very intense storm moves near the coast."

The buoy that recorded a 74.4-foot wave was within 30 miles of the California coast. (Image/Google)

Around the same time as the other recording, a buoy about 12 miles off the coast of Humboldt Bay, North Spit, California, recorded a significant wave height of 37.6 feet.

Another factor that would have contributed to the extreme wave height would be the wind blowing in the same direction as the waves were moving, Hoegg said.