Medford, OR – The National Weather Service in Medford has issued multiple marine warnings and watches spanning the Oregon coast from Florence to Pt. St. George, with conditions expected to deteriorate rapidly beginning Friday morning and continuing through late Saturday night.
A series of alerts are now in effect, including:
- A Small Craft Advisory through Saturday morning,
- A Gale Warning from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday,
- A Gale Watch from late Friday night through Saturday afternoon, and
- A Hazardous Seas Watch from Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night.
Forecasters expect southwest winds 30 to 40 knots, with gusts up to 50 knots, and seas ranging from 21 to 28 feet at 15 seconds. The strongest winds and steepest seas will occur between Friday night and Saturday evening, creating life-threatening conditions for small craft and commercial vessels.
According to the National Weather Service, low visibility, very steep waves, and rough bar crossings are likely throughout the period. Mariners are strongly urged to stay in port, secure vessels, and avoid offshore travel until conditions ease Sunday.
