Freak waves
noun - Freak waves are relatively large and spontaneous ocean surface waves that are a threat even to large ships and ocean liners. Freak waves are not necessarily the biggest waves found at sea; they are surprisingly large waves that occur in deep water or where a number of physical factors such as strong winds and fast currents converge.
Freak waves seem not to have a single distinct cause, but occur where physical factors such as high winds and strong currents cause waves to merge together to create a single exceptionally large wave. Once lacking hard evidence for their existence, rogue waves are now known to be a natural ocean phenomenon. Eyewitness accounts from mariners and damages inflicted on ships have long suggested they occurred; however, their scientific measurement was only positively confirmed following measurements of the "Draupner wave", a freak wave at the Draupner platform, in the North Sea on 1 January 1995. During this event, minor damage was inflicted on the platform, confirming that the reading was valid. Satellite images have also confirmed their existence
The swimmer dreamed of a channel swim where we can swallowed up by a freak wave.
Synonyms
Rogue waves, Monster waves, Killer waves, Extreme waves
