anyone else had this happen to them

I haven't had the problem to that extent, but I have had water heater issues at high altitude if the wind is blowing at certain angles. I've had the flame huff and puff, and repeatedly re-ignite. In every instance so far, opening the outside hatch over the water heater has solved the issue. Which tells me it was a lack of oxygen due to altitude, and I think the wind would pull a bit of a vacuum somehow.

For the OP's problem I would look at cleaning the orifice and adjusting the flame. Spider webs, wasp nest, etc. And most importantly, check the flue for obstruction.