The Ship Report

23/10/2025

More weather info.

The Coast Guard is urging mariners and coastal communities of the Pacific Northwest to take precautions and stay alert as a strong coastal storm is expected to impact Washington and Oregon beginning Thursday afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, seas of 20 to 22 feet, are forecasted to begin offshore on Thursday. These conditions can produce dangerous seas, currents, and bar conditions.

Mariners should understand their capabilities and the capabilities of their vessel before setting sail. Vessels at anchor or mooring balls must ensure their gear and vessel can hold anchor in strong winds or seas. Razor Clam diggers participating in the fishery on coastal beaches should exercise extreme caution.

The Coast Guard reminds mariners of the following:

Check bar conditions: Bar status and restrictions are broadcast via VHF-FM channels 16 and 22A. They are also available online here: Local Bar Observations. Under 33 CFR 165.1325, operating across a closed bar is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port.

Carry a working VHF radio: Have a VHF radio or waterproof communication device on your person in case you go overboard or are unable to access it inside your vessel. Mariners in distress should contact the Coast Guard via VHF-FM radio Channel 16 or dial 911.

Wear your life jacket: No one plans to fall overboard. Wear your life jacket when you are on deck.

Monitor official marine weather forecast: Visit the National Weather Service Coastal Waters Forecast or tune into NOAA Weather Radio.

Avoid jetties and coastal rocks: High surf and wave surges can sweep people into the water with little warning. Large marine debris can be carried by heavy surf and unexpectedly wash up on beaches and rocks.

Safety of life at sea is paramount. By staying informed, being prepared, and exercising good judgment, you can significantly reduce the risk of an accident and ensure you return home safely.

23/10/2025

Weather update: looks like our atmospheric river will start bringing us rain in the wee hours of Friday morning...wunderground says about 2 am.

And (according to all NWS reports) this is not a horrible storm, just to be clear...it 's pretty much winter on the coast. But expect wind, a lot of rain, and the power could go out.

Here's a current satellite image:

23/10/2025

Thursday Ship Schedule

No arriving ships Thursday, and only a couple leaving. Could be weather-related, as conditions worsen on the bar and out in the ocean. The bar was on Yellow status as of Wednesday evening. If weather worsens, it could go to Red. There may be some delays in ship traffic until this storm moves through.

I'll do a schedule Friday and post it here, and we can see where we are.

Podcast about "All Things Maritime," based in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River meets the vast Pacific Ocean.

22/10/2025

MARINE WEATHER

Expect stormy weather conditions in our coastal region, starting Thursday and continuing through the weekend. Gales are expected across all waters Thursday evening into Friday morning. The active pattern is expected to persist through the weekend as another system moves through the region.

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Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Portland OR
308 PM PDT Wed Oct 22 2025

Coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater Washington to Florence Oregon and westward 60 NM

PZZ200-231245
308 PM PDT Wed Oct 22 2025

SYNOPSIS FOR THE SOUTHERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN OREGON COAST

Conditions are expected to become quite active Thursday and through the weekend across the waters. Strong low will send a cold front through the waters tomorrow afternoon while a westerly swell moves in. Gales are expected across all waters Thursday evening into Friday morning. The active pattern is expected to persist through the weekend as another system moves through the region.

PZZ251-231245
Coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater WA to Cape Falcon OR out 10 NM
308 PM PDT Wed Oct 22 2025

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING

TONIGHT
S wind 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain this evening, then rain likely after midnight. A chance of rain late.

THU
S wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 9 to 10 ft, building to 9 to 12 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: S 7 ft at 9 seconds and W 12 ft at 16 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the morning, then a chance of rain in the afternoon.

THU NIGHT
S wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 15 to 18 ft. Wave Detail: S 10 ft at 11 seconds and W 16 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.

FRI
S wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt, easing to 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 13 to 16 ft, subsiding to 12 to 14 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: S 9 ft at 10 seconds and W 13 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.

FRI NIGHT
SW wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 14 ft. Wave Detail: S 7 ft at 8 seconds and W 12 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.

SAT
S wind 25 to 35 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 11 to 14 ft. Wave Detail: SW 11 ft at 12 seconds and W 14 ft at 14 seconds. Rain in the morning, then showers in the afternoon.

SAT NIGHT
W wind 30 to 35 kt with gusts up to 45 kt, backing to SW 25 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 16 to 21 ft. Wave Detail: W 19 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.

SUN
SW wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 13 to 16 ft, subsiding to 10 to 13 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: SW 3 ft at 6 seconds and W 15 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.

SUN NIGHT
W wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 9 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 seconds and W 10 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

MON
SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SW 3 ft at 5 seconds and W 10 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.

MON NIGHT
W wind 15 to 20 kt, veering to E after midnight. Seas 8 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 6 seconds and W 9 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely.

22/10/2025

More weather info. 🌹

🌧️ An atmospheric river will bring substantial rain, mountain snow, and breezy winds this weekend across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.

To prepare:
🍂 Clear your gutters of leaves and debris
💨 Secure outdoor items which could blow away
🚗 Check road conditions before traveling through the Cascades

22/10/2025

FYI

ODOT is planning restoration work on the Old Youngs Bay Bridge, but does not have a start date set. We'll update when that is available.

The agency says work will involve replacing four timber support beams under the bridge, also called caps.
Replace one timber foundation support post under the bridge, also called a pile.

When that work starts, expect single lane closures Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and up to four full daytime bridge closures with detours about two weeks apart.

22/10/2025

A good assessment of the likely local impact of our approaching atmospheric river event later this week.

22/10/2025

Today's podcast - the coastal jet is back.

Ship captains don’t like the coastal jet much. It’s a quirky local weather phenomenon that can cause the weather to get worse the closer approaching ships get to the Columbia River Bar. Today we’ll hear from Capt. Thron Riggs, who spent many years as a Columbia River Bar pilot, explaining what...

22/10/2025

Wednesday Ship Schedule

Podcast about "All Things Maritime," based in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River meets the vast Pacific Ocean.

22/10/2025

Interesting vessel alert:

Wednesday night around 11:30pm, the USNS Arrowhead will arrive at the Port of Astoria. She's another HOS offshore supply vessel like the one that came into the river earlier this week (see previous post for details).

The Arrowhead works for the Military Sealift Command. Not sure why she's stopping in Astoria, but it's a good opportunity to take a look at a very high-tech vessel, if you're nearby.

22/10/2025

On today's podcast, a look at a local ship that is a relic of 1960's Navy technology - the USS Plainview. She's beached on private property on the shores of the Columbia, not far from Megler, Washington, in a location known as Hungry Harbor.

Today we take a look at the USS Plainview, a once-innovative, prototype hydrofoil ship design that was decommissioned by the Navy in the 1960s. She ended up sidelined by her civilian owner after plans to make her into a seafood processing vessel didn’t pan out. She remains, partially dismantled, o...

22/10/2025

MARINE WEATHER

"A northwesterly swell will bring hazardous seas through this evening with seas subsiding overnight. A coastal jet will bring breezy southerly winds Wednesday afternoon across the inner waters and Columbia River Bar. Active weather continues Thursday through the weekend with potential for another coastal jet and gale force southerly wind gusts."

A coastal jet is a high speed temporary wind event that sometimes happens along the coast here under certain weather conditions. I'll talk about it on Wednesday's podcast.

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Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Portland OR
242 PM PDT Tue Oct 21 2025

Coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater Washington to Florence Oregon and westward 60 NM

PZZ200-221245
242 PM PDT Tue Oct 21 2025

SYNOPSIS FOR THE SOUTHERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN OREGON COAST

A northwesterly swell will bring hazardous seas through this evening with seas subsiding overnight. A coastal jet will bring breezy southerly winds Wednesday afternoon across the inner waters and Columbia River Bar. Active weather continues Thursday through the weekend with potential for another coastal jet and gale force southerly wind gusts.

PZZ251-221245
Coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater WA to Cape Falcon OR out 10 NM
242 PM PDT Tue Oct 21 2025

HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM PDT WEDNESDAY

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM PDT WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING

TONIGHT
N wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to SE late. Seas 11 to 15 ft, subsiding to 9 to 12 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: NW 15 ft at 17 seconds.

WED
S wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: S 5 ft at 7 seconds and W 9 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning, then rain likely in the afternoon.

WED NIGHT
S wind 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: S 4 ft at 6 seconds and W 9 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely.

THU
S wind 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt, rising to 25 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 9 to 10 ft, building to 11 to 14 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: S 11 ft at 10 seconds and W 12 ft at 16 seconds. Rain likely.

THU NIGHT
S wind 25 to 35 kt, becoming 30 to 35 kt after midnight. Seas 14 to 17 ft, building to 16 to 18 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: S 12 ft at 11 seconds and W 12 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.

FRI
S wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft, subsiding to 12 to 15 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: S 11 ft at 10 seconds and W 12 ft at 15 seconds. Showers in the morning, then rain in the afternoon.

FRI NIGHT
SW wind 25 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 14 ft. Wave Detail: S 10 ft at 9 seconds and W 12 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.

SAT
S wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 16 ft. Wave Detail: SW 13 ft at 11 seconds and W 12 ft at 14 seconds. Showers.

SAT NIGHT
SW wind 30 to 35 kt, becoming 25 to 35 kt after midnight. Seas 12 to 16 ft. Wave Detail: W 13 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

SUN
SW wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 12 to 15 ft, subsiding to 11 to 13 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: SW 6 ft at 8 seconds and W 13 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.

SUN NIGHT
W wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt after midnight. Seas 11 to 13 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 8 seconds and W 11 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.S