Those Mysterious Shafts of Sunlight Beaming Out from Oregon Coast Skies

Published 09/12/25 at 7:25 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Manzanita, Oregon) - On any partly cloudy day – just about anywhere – mysterious rays of light could pop out. These dramatic shafts of sunlight often pierce the sky, creating a striking visual effect. Known as crepuscular rays, these beams typically appear near sunrise or sunset and are often mistaken for something celestial.

They're a bit more common on the Oregon coast or Washington coast than inland, adding yet another layer of awe and surprise to the ocean environment. Above: the ethereal sight as it was captured in Manzanita one year.

Despite this heavenly vibe, the science behind them is grounded in atmospheric conditions. According to Treena Jensen of the National Weather Service in Portland, the rays form when sunlight shines through breaks in the clouds and illuminates particles like dust or haze in the air. This scattered light creates the illusion of rays fanning outward from the sun.

MORE ON THE SCIENCE OF CREPUSCULAR RAYS

She spoke with Oregon Coast Beach Connection a few years ago, providing tons of insight into this dazzling phenomenon.

The term crepuscular refers to twilight, which is when these rays are most commonly seen, she said. The sun must be low on the horizon, and the atmosphere must contain enough particulates to scatter the light effectively. Here, the striking sight was snapped in Lincoln City in spring. Note the bluish even pastel look: this is something that really usually just happens in spring along these beaches.

Although the rays appear to bend, they are actually straight and parallel. Satellite images confirm this, but the perspective from the ground makes them seem to radiate in different directions. This shot is from Pacific City one summer. Sunset has a brighter but paler tone to it.

In the case of this shot in Seaside taken in 2004 (above), the hole in the clouds is above where the sun is. That means the divergence would point upwards.

This effect doesn't necessarily mean Oregon coast skies are polluted, either. Jensen said while dust, pollution and even fires from a distant land are a factor, often it's the ocean that's the big cause.

Does the beam-of-light thing happen down south in places like Bandon or Port Orford? Indeed it does, as Manuela Durson captured here in the Port Orford area.- Manuela Durson Fine Arts

“Salt spray from ocean waves sometimes produces that,” Jensen said. “It's a somewhat polluted environment, but not the pollution you normally think of. It's a natural pollution. Especially on a windy day when there's pretty big surf that can cause a lot of sea spray.”

There's kind of a UFO look that accompanies this. Holes in the clouds in various places can create odd, random spots lit up on the beach, like this circular area that almost seems like its getting hit with a spotlight. This photo was taken at Lincoln City at a secret park that lurks above Taft / Siletz Bay.

More sights from Manzanita and dramatic rays shooting out from distant clouds (and below).

 

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