Records from a marine monitoring company captured what has been described as the most extreme rogue wave ever officially recorded off the west coast of Canada. The wave, which was three times the height of the surrounding waves, was detected by sensors on a buoy in the Ucluelet area. Data was sent to a scientist at the University of Victoria who confirmed it was not a technical error.

Scientists have heard reports of giant waves appearing without warning for centuries, but these accounts were often dismissed. In 1826, a French naval officer crossing the Indian Ocean reported seeing waves of nearly 100 feet during a storm, a claim that contradicted the scientific understanding of the time. The first rogue wave to be officially recognized was recorded in 1995. The so-called Draupner wave, which was more than twice the size of the waves around it, hit a Norwegian gas platform in the North Sea on New Year’s Day.

A rogue wave is now defined as a wave that is more than twice as tall as the waves surrounding it. These waves can appear suddenly in stormy seas or in calm conditions and have been linked to a number of maritime incidents. In 2007, a U.S. government agency listed 50 historical maritime tragedies that were likely caused by rogue waves.

Scientists have proposed several theories to explain how these waves form. One theory suggests that waves crossing paths can combine their energy, while another points to groups of waves exchanging energy to create a single larger wave. Recent research from an expedition to Antarctica found that strong winds playing over young waves can cause some waves to draw energy from their neighbors and grow significantly larger. Scientists are concerned that this phenomenon may become more common as the ocean and atmosphere gain more energy.

The behavior of these waves was studied in a lab for the first time in 2018. Researchers found that waves meeting from widely different directions can push water upward, creating a “crosswave” that can continue to grow even after a normal wave would have broken. These findings could influence how structures like wind turbines and oil platforms are designed to withstand the ocean.

Rogue waves are distinct from tsunamis. A tsunami is caused by a large shift in the water column, such as an earthquake or landslide, and its energy is only released when it reaches shallow water. Rogue waves, by contrast, are formed at the surface level.

Separately, scientists have raised concerns about a fault line in northwestern Canada. The Tintina Fault, which runs beneath the town of Dawson City in the Yukon, was previously thought to have been inactive for millions of years. More recent research suggests the fault may have been active more recently than previously believed, and researchers have found evidence it has built up around 20 feet of strain. If released at once, this tension could produce an earthquake of up to magnitude 7.5.

The fault is not currently included on Canada’s official seismic hazard map, in part because it showed no recent signs of activity and the region has limited monitoring. Researchers are now working to determine how often the fault has ruptured in the past and how much stress it is currently holding. They have recommended that it be added to the hazard map so that buildings and infrastructure in the area can be designed accordingly.

A separate study has focused on fault lines beneath the Sea of Marmara in Turkey. Using electromagnetic imaging, scientists built a detailed 3D map of the North Anatolian Fault where it runs underwater near Istanbul. The map identified locked zones where stress has been building for a long time. Historical records suggest major earthquakes in this region have occurred roughly every 250 years, and the last one was in 1766, which has led to concern about the area.

Turkey has been working on an upgraded early warning system designed to detect the first signals of an earthquake and send alerts quickly. In October 2025, the system sent its first alert about eight seconds after a magnitude 5 quake struck the region. Placing more sensors on the seafloor is expected to provide additional advance warning in the future.

In the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle fault zone remains active. A major earthquake in 923 A.D. lifted the seafloor, collapsed shorelines, and triggered a tsunami in Puget Sound. A recent analysis of marine terraces suggests that earthquakes of that size are extremely rare, but smaller faults in the area may produce damaging quakes more frequently. Researchers found evidence of smaller earthquakes occurring roughly every 350 years over the last 2,500 years, and they are recommending that this information be included in seismic hazard models.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone, which stretches from Northern California to Vancouver Island, is also a significant concern for the region. The fault has produced massive earthquakes in the past, including one in 1700 that sent a tsunami across the Pacific to Japan. The zone is locked, and pressure has been building for over 300 years. Scientists estimate a 10% to 15% chance of a magnitude 9 earthquake in the next 50 years.

Recent research suggests that the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the San Andreas Fault in California may be mechanically linked. Sediment cores have shown evidence of paired debris layers, indicating that major earthquakes on these faults have occurred close together in the past. The stress change from one rupture could destabilize the other, creating a sequence of disasters that would affect the entire West Coast and disrupt national supply chains.

No one knows when the next major earthquake will occur. Scientists note that earthquakes often begin with slow, quiet movement that accelerates into a full rupture. Understanding this early stage could eventually help improve warning systems.

While the threat of a major earthquake is real, experts emphasize preparation over prediction. Building codes that require structures to withstand shaking, early warning systems, and evacuation planning are the most practical tools for reducing the impact of a future event.