25-Foot Waves Batter Oregon Coast, More to Come Over Weekend, Early Week

Published 12/12/2018 at 6:09 PM PDT
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Oregon Coast) – SEE THE UPDATE: High Surf, Wind Warnings for Oregon Coast, Flooding - Continues Through Wednesday .... Major wave action is taking place on the Oregon coast right now, which has been cause for a high surf advisory in effect through 10 a.m. on Thursday. Bringing 25-foot waves at times, it’s not a good time to be on the beaches. In fact, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), there will likely be more such warnings for Friday and then again early in the week.

On the flipside, there will be great storm watching happening now through at least Friday. More high waves will return on Sunday and Monday.

The NWS said a powerful northwest swell is creating breakers up to 25 feet. All beach locations will be impacted by this.

Hazardous surf will cause waves to run up much higher on the beaches than normal. These powerful waves can sweep people off jetties and other exposed rocks, as well as toss logs or other debris onto low-lying accesses. Logs in the surf will be especially dangerous if you’re walking near the tideline.

To play it safe and get a good view, stick to the upper areas around rocky spots like Yachats, Depoe Bay, Oceanside or Pacific City. Viewpoints just south of Cannon Beach and above Haystack Rock should provide good wave action as well.

“A series of storms will cross the northeast Pacific today and continue through early next week,” the NWS said. “These storms will send significant westerly swells toward the Pacific Northwest coast resulting in a few periods of high surf activity. Additional events are possible Friday and Sunday through Monday. Details remain very uncertain about the latter events and will be refined as they draw nearer.”

Combined seas look as if they’ll lower to around 13 feet on Saturday, according to NWS forecasts, then start rising again that night. Predictions of 23-foot waves seem to be in the cards for the Oregon coast on Monday and Tuesday.

More storm systems are piling up offshore, and the NWS thinks it’s quite likely this pattern could continue awhile.

“The low will bring a cold front with stronger gales and possible storm force gusts across the waters on Friday,” the NWS said. “Currently, there is no long term break in sight as additional systems line up across the Pacific well into next week.”

It all means not great conditions for whale watching, however, as the big migration picks up steam.

“We’re dealing with 20-foot waves here today,” said Luke Parsons, head of the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay. “We can’t see any whales, but people are just storm watching here today.” - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

More Resources: See the Oregon Coast Web Cams. See Oregon Coast Weather. See Oregon Coast Oceanfront Hotels to watch the waves here and some suggestions below.

Sunset Vacation Rentals. 70 homes inn Manzanita, Rockaway Beach, Nedonna Beach and the secretive Falcon Cove. 186 Laneda Ave., Manzanita, Oregon. 503-368-7969. 800-883-7784. www.ssvr.com.

Tradewinds Motel, Rockaway Beach. 523 N. Pacific St., Rockaway Beach. (503) 355-2112 - 1-800-824-0938. www.tradewinds-motel.com

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