Published 12/12/08

Oregon Weather Update: Coast Range Clear Most of Weekend

Huge waves make a wild centerpiece at the bottom of Manzanita's Laneda Ave.

(Manzanita, Oregon) - As winds began whipping the north and central Oregon coast, the weather chatter was also in a froth about the possibility of snowy conditions on the passes to the coast. But that won't materialize until later on Sunday, and even then it doesn't mean hazardous driving is necessarily going to be a problem.

To keep an eye on weather conditions, see the Oregon Coast Weather page.

It does mean the way to and from the Oregon coast will be clear for the weekend, allowing some fantastic viewing of crazy coastal storm conditions which started early Friday morning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said a big arctic front will position itself over the coast, coast range and inland valleys on Sunday, lingering throughout the week.

“This air mass has its origins in northern Canada and will likely reach the southern Willamette Valley area Sunday night and Monday,” the NWS said. “Daytime temperatures will fall into the 20’s on Sunday, mainly in the north, as the arctic air spreads in. Daytime highs will then struggle to reach freezing through much of next week. Night lows will drop into at least the teens, with single digits or possibly even below zero in the Cascades.”

Manzanita's "Lake Post Office."

Some small power outages were reported in Manzanita and Cannon Beach Friday, as high wind gusts tore through the small coastal towns.

Rain dumped on Manzanita on and off, creating a large puddle behind the post office which many locals have nicknamed “Lake Post Office.”

Still, periods of clear sky have been common all day, as the rain takes a break, even letting the sun in for a while. The wind has been blowing steadily, however, with gusts increasing as the rainsqualls hit.

Massive swells on the ocean are the rule of the day, causing surfers to abandon all hope of some pre-storm fun on Friday morning. Many had been talking about the possibility of taking advantage of the bigger waves that commonly come just before a storm.

The sun peeked out quite often in Manzanita Friday.

Those swells, coupled with high tides, are the cause of a flood watch along the coast.

“The greatest threat for coastal flooding will be near the time of high tide around noon Saturday,” the NWS said. “The expected high tide for Newport on Saturday will be 10.2 feet at 11:43 a.m. The expected high tide for Astoria on Saturday will be 10.6 feet at 12:54 p.m. The large swells and strong onshore winds will begin to subside late Saturday afternoon, ending the threat for coastal flooding.”

This period of high tides also means extreme low tides. Thursday, with conditions bright, sunny and warm, saw many clam hunters at a seriously low tide in Seaside late in the afternoon.

Coastal residents are used to these storms, and there’s little about 60 mph gusts that shakes them. They’re also used to minor power outages, which created some small, momentary inconveniences. One lady in Manzanita’s Little Apple Grocery Friday lightly complained about the power trucks blocking her street as they tried to restore power.

Big waves make a dramatic splash near Depoe Bay.

But coastal residents aren’t used to the frigid temperatures predicted for their region as well, which may present the possibility of dustings of snow on the beaches on Sunday. Many have complained about those low temps later this week.

All the talk of inclement weather seems to have scared off many tourists, although unnecessarily so. One hotelier in Manzanita complained he had eight room nights reserved for this weekend, but everyone canceled - all spooked by weather conditions.

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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