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Small Spring Storm Rattles Oregon Coast Sunday

Oceanside early in the evening on Sunday, just as the first rains start coming in

(Oregon Coast) – “It wasn’t really a big deal,” said Dave Johnson, owner of Cannon Beach Fultano’s Pizza. “It really wasn’t a full winter storm. But because it was this time of year, you don’t really expect it.”

Mother Nature left a kind of trick or treat instead of an Easter egg this weekend. A small storm stomped its way through the Oregon coast on Sunday, hitting the north coast with pounding rain and winds for a few hours late in the day, but jangling the central coast throughout most of the night.

The storm may mean interesting things will be washing up on the coast, as well, say some experts.

The Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport recorded a peak wind at 35 mph on Sunday, although one local resident said he had heard about peak gusts around 45 mph.

On the north coast, it kicked in about 4:30 p.m., with a deluge of rain from Garibaldi northward. By 6 p.m., harsh winds, with gusts perhaps around 40 or 45 mph, were seen knocking objects around from Rockaway to Seaside. In Cannon Beach, Johnson’s wooden “open” sign, which hangs from two hooks from a small awning, hit the ground a few times during the three or four hours of wind.

“I drove by and saw it down once,” Johnson said.

Cannon Beach on this blustery day

“It has been a typical April storm; sunny one minute and hailing the next,” said Tiffany Boothe, with the Seaside Aquarium.

The ocean waves were churned up mightily, and Cannon Beach looked more like a winter scene than the middle of spring.

In Manzanita, BeachConnection.net cameras caught a couple all bundled up for the elements, braving the winds and slashing rain as they staggered determinedly onto the beach.

In Newport, things began a bit later, about 6 p.m. or so, said Starfish Point manager Roy Emerick. “It was cold and a pretty good downpour,” he said.

Tourists braving the storm in Manzanita

Melissa Haines said this storm lasted well into the night, with driving winds, rain and hail battering the central coast until the wee hours of the night.

“The winds were going until real late,” Emerick said. He remembered being awaked around 6 a.m. and noticing the tempest still rattling outside.

Earlier, just as the storm began, Emerick was outside working on the hotel property, and he noticed people on the beach having a difficult time. “I could see some were trying to make their way back up the cliff, doing their best in the wind and rains,” he said. “People staying at the hotel were talking about this one being a pretty good one.”

In Depoe Bay, Trollers Lodge owner Peg Leoni was a little more pragmatic – and humorous – about the storm.

“Don't be such a wimp,” Leoni said. “Relatively speaking, wasn't that much of a storm.
Remember, on the coast it's only 'breezy' as long as you can walk upright. When you have to lean into it, it's windy. A serious storm is the one that causes a multi-ton buoy to drag anchor and beach itself.”

Stormy Nye Beach, Newport

On the north coast, the messy weather was gone by 8:30 p.m., and calm, cool conditions descended over places like Manzanita and Cannon Beach. Even the stars were visible on the north coast by this time. It was a delight for tourists, said many business owners on the Oregon coast. Some patrons at Fultano’s in Cannon Beach were itching to get out and walk in the melee after finishing their meals.

It could bode well for beachcombers, said Boothe.

“The wind has been gusting out of the west, so you know what that means,” she said. “Keep an eye out on the beaches. Who knows what will wash in?”

Boothe is referring to objects known as “ocean burps,” which are masses of marine debris that get bundled together in stormy weather and then tossed up by the tides. These are comprised of rocks, sticks, and sometimes living matter, like live eggs or small, rare starfish or crabs.

Sunset at Manzanita on Monday, with squalls in the distance, waiting to come inland

The next day, Monday, KGW-TV weatherman Dave Salesky predicted intermittent showers, cloudy conditions and some sun on the coast, saying “if it’s rainy, just wait five minutes.” This turned out to be mostly accurate. Cloud cover mostly stayed but went away a few times, revealing the sun periodically in Manzanita. Around noon, a massive thunderclap and lightning flash shook the town.

Just up the road a few miles, north of the Arch Cape Tunnel, Cannon Beach and Seaside had mostly thin cloud cover, spots of sun and no rain or thunder.

Meanwhile, the stormy conditions from Sunday night continued to agitate the surf, creating massive waves most of Monday. By sunset, it had poured and been sunny on the north coast about a dozen times. But the clouds left the sun alone for a little bit of time, just long enough for BeachConnection.net to capture a brief and interesting shot of the sunset.

It’s again proof of how wild, unpredictable and full of constant surprises coastal weather is during spring.

Brian Hines, owner of San Dune Inn in Manzanita, sits at his front desk and laughs as the weather shifts again from a stretch of sun to another sudden downpour. He shakes his head as he laughs. “You can’t tell what’s going to happen next,” he said. “But that’s just the coast for you. That’s just the way it is out here this time of year.”

Inn at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms. Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly. Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com.

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