These waves are most likely to have been caused by landslides involving massive falls of mountain detritus happening both above and below the water level. Geologists are able to identify such cataclysmic events by studying the layers of sediment on the lake floor.

While Lake Como is a freshwater body, it frequently experiences waves due to a combination of seasonal winds and boat traffic. The most common natural cause is the "Breva," a thermal wind that blows from the south toward the north in the afternoon, creating a "choppy" surface that is prized by windsurfers and sailors. Conversely, the "Tivano" blows from the north in the morning. Additionally, Lake Como is a deep, Y-shaped fjord-like lake with steep mountain walls; when wind or a heavy ferry wake hits the shore, the energy reflects back into the center, creating a "standing wave" effect. In 2026, the rise of "fast-taxi" tourism has also increased "anthropogenic waves" (man-made wakes), which have led to new "no-wake" regulations in the "Diamond of the Lake" (the central branch near Bellagio and Varenna) to prevent shoreline erosion. For 2026 visitors, these waves are rarely "dangerous," but they provide a dynamic, "ocean-like" feel to the lake that distinguishes it from the smaller, stagnant lakes in the Italian Alpine region.