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Oregon Coast Breaking News: Road Closures, Issues Due to Storm

Published 11/22/2011

Flooding south of Seaside

(Oregon Coast) – High winds continue to knock things around, resulting in some road closures and flooding along Highway 101 and in the coast range. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a surf advisory on top of all the other advisories it's posted recently.

Stay updated via the Oregon Coast Road Conditions page

NOTE - UPDATE: Highway 18 is back open as early afternoon Wednesday.

Highway 18 near Grande Ronde is closed due to fallen trees, and ODOT said it will remain so throughout the night as crews work to clear the road. This closed down the eastern access to the Van Duzer corridor and the direct route to Lincoln City. ODOT said you should use alternate routes to the central Oregon coast, such as Highway 20 between Corvallis and Newport or Highway 6 from Portland to Tillamook.

The Seaside Signal and ODOT are reporting major flooding between Seaside and Cannon Beach, at the usual spot two miles south of Seaside. The road has been closed to cars and low-lying vehicles of all kinds, but trucks with higher clearance may pass through. ODOT closed this spot this morning to lower vehicles.

High water was reported two miles south of Waldport this morning, and ODOT urged caution there.

Around 1 p.m., ODOT issues an alert for a crash on Highway 101 just south of Florence, causing a 20-minute delay in traffic there. This will pass soon, however, so stay up-to-the-minute on the Oregon Coast Road Conditions page.

High winds prompted ODOT to warn drivers on the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport yesterday. This area will likely remain problematic as winds increase through Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, wind caused vegetation and tree issues around the Cannon Beach area and drivers were urged to be cautious there, but that incident has since closed.

Meanwhile, up and down the Oregon coast, peak wind gusts were recorded in the high 60's early this morning by the National Weather Service. Places like Lincoln City, Cape Meares, Newport, Florence, Pacific City, Cape Foulweather and Tillamook all recorded gusts around 67 to 69 mph. Sea Lion Caves and Astoria recorded 81 mph, while Mount Hebo – just east of Oceanside – recorded 97 mph.

The NOAA wind gauges at the airport at Newport have been recording steady winds around 30 – 40 mph. Peak gusts were recorded in the high 50's.

The NWS said its surf advisory is in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday, bringing sea swells 22 feet to 26 feet until the morning. It all means hazardous conditions on the beaches, as the surf may be slinging heavy objects as well as extremely powerful tides that will have little mercy on you if you're caught near them.

Steve Pierce, President of the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, said .80 inches of rain fell at Grande Ronde in the 24 hour period ending at 9 a.m. this morning, and about half an inch fell at Saddle Mountain in the coast range. .76 inches of rain fell at Newport in that period.

“The strongest storm of the fall season is bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to many locations in Oregon and Washington this morning,” Pierce said. “Winds have gusted to as high as nearly 100 mph at Mt. Hebo, Oregon in the coast range. Near hurricane force gusts have also been reported along the beaches of Oregon and Washington. Strong winds have also reached some areas inland.”

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