Sneaker Waves Threaten South Washington & Oregon Coastlines Through Monday
The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a Beach Hazards Statement covering the South Washington Coast and the North and Central Oregon Coast, warning of dangerous sneaker waves through Monday afternoon.
These waves don’t look dramatic at first — and that’s what makes them deadly.

Unlike normal breaking surf, sneaker waves surge far beyond the typical waterline, racing up the beach, over logs, rocks, and jetties. People who think they are standing safely on dry sand can be knocked off their feet and dragged into the frigid Pacific in seconds.

The warning zone includes:

Clatsop County Coast
Tillamook County Coast
Central Coast of Oregon
South Washington Coast (Long Beach Peninsula, Ilwaco, Cape Disappointment, Surfside)

The Weather Service warns that sneaker waves can sweep people into deep water with little or no warning, leading to serious injury or drowning — even in otherwise calm weather.
What the public should do
Stay well back from the waterline
Keep children and pets away from the surf
Never turn your back on the ocean
Avoid rocks, jetties, and driftwood piles

Do not enter the water
This warning remains in effect through Monday afternoon.
On a coast already vulnerable to winter storms, king tides, and erosion, sneaker waves are one of the most unpredictable and deadly hazards we face. The ocean doesn’t need to look violent to be dangerous.
Respect the water.
Enjoy the beach — from a distance.