Winter and Wind Warnings for Washington / Oregon Coast, Coast Range

Published 12/14/21 at 5:22 PM PST
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Pacific City, Oregon) – A wide variety of inclement weather is headed for the Oregon coast, south Washington coast and the passes to the beaches, with some different warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS). More snow is coming to the Coast Range, one day after heavy snow conditions shut down part of Highway 126 between Eugene and Florence for awhile, high wind warnings are getting issued for different parts of the coastline, and some heavy seas may make for dangerous conditions on some beaches. (Above: the Badger Pass area of Highway 126 between Florence and Eugene Tuesday, showing a good deal of snow - courtesy ODOT road cam)

Oregon Coast Range – Washington's Willapa Hills: Winter Weather Advisory. A winter weather advisory has been issued for the southern Washington coast's Willapa Hills and Oregon Coast Range highways of OR 126, OR 20, OR 18, OR 6 and OR 26. The advisory is in effect from early morning Wednesday through late afternoon on Thursday.

Expect snow accumulations in the higher elevations of three to six inches along with winds gusting up to 40 mph.

The NWS said to slow down while driving and be cautious.

Monday, Highway 126W was closed for awhile because heavy snow conditions had caused numerous crashes. It has been reopened since the late afternoon that day.

Northern Third of Oregon Coast: wind watch canceled. There will be sizable winds on the upper third of the coast, with gusts up to 50 mph, but the NWS canceled the wind watch they had issued earlier. This is for the areas of Pacific City up through the Washington coast.

High Wind Warnings for Central Coast and South Coast. A high wind warning remains in effect for most of Wednesday for the areas of Lincoln City, Newport, Yachats, Florence, Coos Bay and Brookings. South winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected with gusts up to 60 mph.

The warning is in effect from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday for the central Oregon coast, but in effect until 10 a.m. on the south coast.

“Damaging winds may blow down an isolated tree or two,” the NWS said. “Very isolated power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”

The NWS also urged you not to be in forested areas during these wind events because branches could fall on you.

See Oregon Coast Weather - Washington Coast Weather

For the beaches, there are no specific warnings or advisories, but high seas offshore are creating a bundle of warnings for mariners. This will translate into somewhat wild conditions on beaches and extra caution should be exercised.

On the positive side of this, with combined seas in the lower to mid teens in the next two or so days, this will be some good storm watching on cliff areas, like those at Depoe Bay, Yachats, just south of Cannon Beach, Bandon, Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor and Shore Acres near Coos Bay.

Monday night saw a dusting of snow on a fair amount of different places around Oregon. Whistling Winds Motel in Lincoln City reports some snow fell even there.

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

Schooner’s Cove Inn

Agate Beach Motel.

Coho Oceanfront Lodge

Kiwanda Coastal Properties

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Stormy Coos Bay, courtesy Brent Lerwill

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