Rogue waves were once just a spooky bit of marine folklore.
Sailors recounted tales of freakishly large waves that seemingly came out of nowhere, crashing into their ships — or completely submerging others, never to be seen again.
In the last 27 years, scientists have accepted that rogue waves are a real, scientific phenomenon. And when a massive wave hit a Ventura, Calif., beach on Thursday, many were quick to call it a rogue.
But was it? And what are rogue waves, anyway?
WATCH | Massive freak wave inundates a California beach: Massive wave slams ashore in California, injuring several people6 hours ago
Duration 0:36
Gigantic waves pummelled California’s
