Active Wave Week Along Oregon, Washington - Surf Up to 35 Ft High Coming

Published 11/10/2026 at 9:58 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Manzanita, Oregon) – After a weekend of heavy wave action that resulted in way too many close calls, the Oregon coast and Washington coast are going to get hit with more. There are no wave advisories or warnings just yet, but the National Weather Service (NWS) is already talking about what's coming: and it's going to be a larger, deadlier event than Sunday.

The tall and the short of it is that there will be more warnings and advisories in the coming days, and then Monday or so another run of heavy waves kicks in. In many areas of both Oregon and Washington, waves offshore will be up to 25 feet high by the weekend, but onshore waves will be more like 30 feet or more because of the long period timing.

Again, we're looking at a great show at places like Depoe Bay's Spouting Horn, Coos Bay's Shore Acres and Washington's Cape Disappointment. This time, however: heed the warnings. Some on social scoffed at the predictions of 28-foot waves, but that's exactly what happened. This weekend saw a bevy of unwise decisions and people too close to the waves. That included a little girl who was momentarily swept away. A Weekend of Near-Deadly Misses Along the Oregon Coast in Video

The NWS in Medford said wave model guidance indicates a major long-period swell is expected to arrive with the storm system this weekend. Generated by a storm now developing near the western Aleutians, the swell is forecast to reach the Oregon coast late Friday and peak Saturday morning.

The long period timing is going to play a key role.

“Peak wave heights are forecast to be around 25 feet, perhaps higher, at 18 second period, which translates to breaking surf heights of 30 to 35 feet,” the NWS in Medford said. “This would result in exceptionally high and dangerous surf conditions, with completely inundated beaches, and potential dune overwash and erosion. Those with coastal and marine interests should stay up to date with the latest forecasts as this event approaches.”

Pacific Northwest Weather | Oregon, Washington, Coastline (see NW from space) |---| Washington Coast Weather |---| Oregon Coast Weather |---| Inland Oregon Weather

On the northern Oregon coast and south Washington coast, the NWS office in Portland seems to be indicating slightly lesser wave height but some other factors that may make for even harder impact.

A moderate to high sneaker wave threat is expected to continue along the coast through the week as a west swell of 10 to 12 feet at 13 to 15 seconds builds to 14 to 16 feet by midweek.

There is also the potential for tidal overflow flooding Wednesday and Thursday, with water levels forecast to reach 10 to 11 feet above Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), the standard tidal reference used for coastal measurements. Elevated tides combined with wave action could increase beach inundation and contribute to localized coastal erosion.

“Additionally, confidence is increasing that a stronger westerly swell of 20-24 ft with a dominant period at 16-18 seconds will impact the coast on Saturday for dangerous surf conditions,” the NWS said.

Below are wave height forecasts for general areas. Note these numbers are out at sea a bit, and the actual height of waves coming onshore will be higher because of the period timing. See links to wave height for individual areas: Washington Coast Weather |---| Oregon Coast Weather

South Coast

Thu
Seas 12 to 14 ft. Wave detail: southwest waves 4 ft at 6 seconds and west swell 13 ft at 15 seconds.

Thu Night
Seas 13 to 17 ft. Wave detail: southwest waves 13 ft at 10 seconds and west swell 14 ft at 16 seconds.

Fri
Seas 14 to 18 ft. Wave detail: south waves 13 ft at 10 seconds and west swell 14 ft at 16 seconds.

Fri Night
Seas 16 to 19 ft, building to 17 to 21 ft after midnight. Wave detail: south waves 9 ft at 10 seconds and west swell 19 ft at 18 seconds.

Sat
Seas 19 to 23 ft, building to 22 to 23 ft in the afternoon. Wave detail: south waves 11 ft at 12 seconds and west swell 20 ft at 18 seconds.

Sat Night
Seas 19 to 23 ft, subsiding to 18 to 20 ft after midnight. Dominant seas remain elevated around 18 to 20 ft.

North Coast

Thu
Seas 11 to 14 ft. Wave detail: south waves 3 ft at 5 seconds and west swell 12 ft at 15 seconds.

Thu Night
Seas 12 to 16 ft, building to 13 to 18 ft after midnight. Wave detail: south waves 13 ft at 12 seconds and west swell 13 ft at 16 seconds.

Fri
Seas 16 to 18 ft. Wave detail: south waves 14 ft at 12 seconds and west swell 13 ft at 16 seconds.

Fri Night
Seas 16 to 18 ft, building to 17 to 22 ft after midnight. Wave detail: south waves 12 ft at 11 seconds and west swell 19 ft at 18 seconds.

Sat
Seas 20 to 24 ft. Wave detail: south waves 12 ft at 11 seconds and west swell 22 ft at 18 seconds.

Sat Night
Seas 18 to 21 ft, subsiding to 16 to 20 ft after midnight. Wave detail: southwest waves 7 ft at 7 seconds and west swell 20 ft at 17 seconds.

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