A Storm Warning is in effect for the offshore waters off the Oregon and Washington coast, where seas are forecast to climb to as high as 35 feet by Saturday night.
The National Weather Service Ocean Prediction Center says southwest winds of 35 to 50 knots will hit waters 150 to 250 nautical miles offshore.
Storm Warning offshore
The Storm Warning covers two zones: Cape Shoalwater, WA to Cape Lookout, OR and Cape Flattery to Cape Shoalwater, WA, both 150 to 250 nm offshore.
Forecast seas Saturday night are 20 to 35 feet off the north Oregon and south Washington coast, and 19 to 34 feet off the Washington coast.
Seas stay high Sunday at 19 to 33 feet as winds ease from the west.
Gale Warnings closer to shore
Gale Warnings cover the waters 60 to 150 nm offshore from Cape Flattery, WA to Florence, OR.
Seas there build to 31 to 32 feet off Washington and the north Oregon coast Saturday night into Sunday, with 26 feet off the central Oregon coast.
A Gale Warning is in effect Friday for the coastal waters of Washington and northern Oregon, including the Columbia River Bar, with south winds of 25 to 40 knots.
A Hazardous Seas Warning follows Friday evening for the Oregon-Washington waters from Cape Shoalwater to Cape Falcon, running until 10 AM PST Saturday.
Storm Watch for the coast
A Storm Watch is in effect from Saturday morning for the coastal waters from Cape Falcon, OR to Cape Flattery, WA.
The watch runs through late Saturday night for the Oregon and southwest Washington waters, and through Sunday morning for the Washington coast.
Forecasters say gusts could reach 50 knots, with seas of 12 to 20 feet off Oregon and southwest Washington and 21 to 28 feet off the Washington coast.
A Storm Watch means storm-force winds of 48 to 63 knots are significantly more likely, though timing and location are uncertain.
High sneaker wave threat
NWS Portland has also warned of a high threat of sneaker waves from Friday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 8.
Sneaker waves can run far up a beach and lift or roll heavy logs, which can cause serious injury or death.
What to do
Mariners should stay in port, alter course or secure vessels before conditions worsen, as the Weather Service advises. The very strong winds and seas can capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
Beachgoers should keep off rocks, logs and jetties near the waterline and never turn their back on the ocean.
Get the latest marine forecasts at weather.gov/pqr, weather.gov/sew and ocean.weather.gov.
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