for generating waves, and a change in wind direction can create a new wave pattern while older swells are still moving through the area.
Imagine waves traveling toward a beach from the west. If conditions change and another group of waves begins traveling from a different direction, the two systems can eventually intersect.
From above, those crossing wave crests can form the distinctive grid-like appearance associated with square waves.
Cross seas can also develop when swells produced by distant weather systems travel long distances and encounter another wave system. In some cases, the original storm may already be far away or have passed before the resulting swell reaches the coastline.
Why Are Square Waves Dangerous?
The biggest problem isn’t the fact that the waves look like squares. The danger comes from the complex water movement associated with intersecting wave systems.
When waves arrive from different directions, the water can become
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