( CNN ) -- Two people were killed when unusually large and powerful waves crashed into a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea this week . Here CNN Senior Meteorologist Brandon Miller explains the science behind the deadly squall that hit the Louis Majesty as it traveled from Barcelona , Spain to Genoa , Italy . What caused the wave that hit the cruise ship ? There was a strong storm moving through the Mediterranean which brought winds gusting well over 100 kph . Winds of this magnitude will result in a very rough sea state and large waves . Buoys nearby recorded significant wave heights ( defined as the average of the largest 1/3 of waves over a 20 minute period ) over 6 meters . The waves which hit the ship were reported to be between 8-9 meters . This would not be considered a `` rogue '' wave , as rogue waves must have a height at least double the significant wave height , but it is nevertheless abnormally high . Several factors can contribute to an increase in the size of the wave , including wind direction , ocean current direction , and shape and depth of the sea floor . How common are such waves ? Waves of this height are not very common in the Mediterranean under normal conditions , but it would not be unusual to find waves of this magnitude within strong storms ( as was the case with these waves ) . Rogue waves , especially those not associated with stormy conditions , are far less common , but present the biggest danger to ships due to their unexpected nature . Is it unusual for cruise ships to be hit by such abnormal waves ? Cruise ships are frequently affected by large waves all over the world , although normally not to this extreme , and with minimal consequences . Cruise ships normally set their course to avoid storms and rough seas when possible . We hear of events such as this one every couple of years , such as in March 2001 when two tourist ships were impacted in the same week ( the Bremen and Caledonian Star ) . Can abnormal activity in one ocean impact other seas or oceans ? All the world 's oceans are connected , and we know vary large scale events such as tsunamis can traverse and affect multiple ocean basins ( a very large earthquake in the Indian Ocean could conceivably create a tsunami that would be felt in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for example ) . The waves which hit the Louis Majesty , however , were a much more localized event brought on by a storm system nearby . They were in no way related to the Chile earthquake and subsequent tsunami . Rough seas and high waves can be expected to occur near this storm as it moves eastward through the Mediterranean towards Greece and Turkey . How far from a storm can you find large waves ? Large waves can occur at great distances from the storm that generates them . Hawaii , for instance , will often receive high surf and large swells from tropical storms located in the Western Pacific near Asia or Eastern Pacific near North America . In order for this to occur , the strong wind must blow in a consistent direction over a large distance ( fetch ) , such as in large typhoons/hurricanes .
Powerful storm waves uncommon in the Mediterranean . Wind , ocean current , and shape and depth of sea floor can contribute . Storm waves not connected to recent tsunamis caused by Chile quake .