Astoria, OR – Mariners across the Pacific Northwest offshore waters are facing extremely hazardous conditions tonight as strong winds and building seas pound the region. The National Weather Service’s Ocean Prediction Center has issued a Gale Warning for waters from Cape Flattery to Cape Lookout, extending 60 to 250 nautical miles offshore.
Forecasters report southwest to west winds of 25–35 knots and seas building to 16–26 feet tonight before gradually subsiding Wednesday. The warning covers both the inner offshore zones (PZZ800) and outer zones (PZZ905), affecting commercial and fishing routes off the Washington and Oregon coasts.
Conditions are expected to ease late Wednesday with seas dropping below 15 feet, but another round of rough weather is forecast Friday as southerly winds increase to 20–30 knots with seas rising again to 16 feet or higher.
The NWS advises all vessels to remain in port, secure gear, and avoid offshore travel until the gale subsides. Individual waves may exceed 40 feet, posing life-threatening risks to mariners.
