Oregon Coast Tsunami Findings: Port Orford Received Largest Wave at 2.4 ft

Published 08/04/25 at 6:25 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Port Orford, Oregon) – Last week's tsunami alert across the west coast of the U.S. and Canada took the region by storm, caused by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake offshore from Russia. Tsunami advisories and watches went up across the Oregon and Washington coastlines, and this time around nothing major occurred. No visible waves – no bays or harbors getting stirred up and batted around, as some did with the tsunami of 2011. Click to see full graphic

However, minor extra wave height was getting recorded rolling in, with buoys and instruments from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration picking up some different activity.

Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Medford released what it called “preliminary” wave height measurements of what came barreling through, and the highest was at Port Orford at 2.4 feet at 3:12 a.m.

Garibaldi came in second at 1.2 feet at 12:24 a.m.

Charleston came in third at 1 foot at 11:30 a.m.

Newport's South Beach area saw .7 ft at 6:10 a.m. and the least highest of the bunch was Astoria's 0.3 ft. at 5:29 a.m.

All these, of course, happened underwater and more or less away from the eyes of witnesses onshore.

The NWS' Alexis Hermansen told Oregon Coast Beach Connection they did not receive any reports of eyewitnesses to larger waves or hear of any damage.

Port Orford (ODOT)

“I know we were seeing some observations of tsunami waves around one to three feet on July 30th - so that morning after,” Hermansen said. “And that's at Port Orford. We were seeing some differences and it's really Port Orford that has the highest along the Oregon coast, but otherwise it was pretty minimal.”

Hermansen said that it's entirely possible people could have seen the larger waves coming in, but there would not have been anything to differentiate it from the rest.

“You could see a wave, but at one to three feet you're not going to entirely notice that difference,” she said. “It continuously comes in. It's pretty choppy. But with our actual instruments that we had there, it was able to say 'hey, you should be this... around this time of day,' and it is going to be 1 to 3 feet higher than normal.”

You can see the various buoys and their live data at the different coastal weather pages for Rockaway Beach, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Astoria, Coos Bay, Port Orford, Florence and Yachats. It's interesting to note there are no buoys and NOAA stations at areas like Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, etc – only those with harbors. (See links below)

The graphic says these are “preliminary” measurements of the tsunami waves, which Hermansen said only means there may or may not be some subtle changes in data.

Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

Astoria Weather + Buoy Reports

Seaside Weather + Buoy Reports

Cannon Beach Weather + Buoy Reports

Manzanita Weather + Buoy Reports

Nehalem Bay / Wheeler + Buoy Reports

Rockaway Beach Weather + Buoy Reports

Oceanside/Tillamook Weather + Buoy Reports

Pacific City Weather + Buoy Reports

Lincoln City Weather + Buoy Reports

Depoe Bay Weather + Buoy Reports

Newport Weather + Buoy Reports

Yachats Weather + Buoy Reports

Florence Weather + Buoy Reports

Coos Bay / Charleston Weather + Buoy Reports

Port Orford Weather + Buoy Reports

Brookings Weather + Buoy Reports

Multiple, Killer Oregon Coast Balcony Views at a Mere Two of Newport's Hotspots
A slice of infnity at one and a charming mansion in dense woods. Newport hotel reviews

Oregon Coast Play 'n Stay: Seaside's Prom Walk and Its Legendary Inns
Quite a walk through time and scenery, with some stellar places to stay. Seaside lodging Seaside hotel reviews

Exquisite Spring Break Hangouts on Oregon Coast with New Discoveries
The wows of Lincoln City and Cannon Beach, including the beginning of a ghost forest. Lincoln City hotel reviews, Cannon Beach hotel reviews, specials, Seaside hotel reviews. Shearwater Inn, Schooner's Cove, Wayside Inn, Pelican Shores Inn, Looking Glass Inn

Where Astounding Oregon Coast Views Just Don't Quit: Depoe Bay's Ocean Paradi...
Lots of very close whales, extravagant comfort and incredible views. Hotel reviews, lodging

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

Yet Another Great Fireball Above Oregon / Washington - And Why So Many Lately
At 8:36 Sat night, with a bright orange. Also, why so many fireballs recently. Astronomy, sciences, weather

Calling All Artists: Design the Poster for the 100-Year Celebration of Oregon...
Entries accepted now for the contest. Astoria events

Washington Coast Opens Up Razor Clam Digs Apri 17 - 23
Clam it up in Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks

Ecola State Park Officially Back Open Monday - N. Oregon Coast Landmark At Ca...
With no notice, but Cannon Beach Chamber confirms. Travel, traffic

Run of Unusual Animal Deaths on Washington Coast: Whale Swims Up River, Skinn...
Grisly series of canine deaths, two whale strandings, another gray whale swims upriver then dies. Crime, marine sciences

'Secret Season' on Oregon Coast: April and May's Unique Aspects
Whales, the most photogenic skies of the year, wild foam and minus tides. Weather, marine sciences, travel tips, traffic

Invasive Quagga Mussels Found in Southern Oregon - Have Not Reached Coastline
Came from Arizona, inspections in full force. Ashland, Brookings

Reggae Musician Mike Love Hits Oregon Coast for Seriously Irie Lincoln City Show
The Beach Club in Lincoln City hosts the show on Saturday, June 28. Lincoln City events

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted