Alert archive / Oregon / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 7, NWS Medford, OR

May 26, 2026Coos County, Curry County, Douglas County, Oregon

NWS Medford, OR issued this beach hazards statement at May 26, 2026, 12:10 PM PDT for Coos County, Curry County, Douglas County, Oregon. It took effect at May 27, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 33 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 26, 2026, 12:10 PM PDT (19:10 UTC)
In effect from
May 27, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT
Expired
May 29, 2026, 2:00 AM PDT
In force
33 hr
Issued by
NWS Medford, OR

Counties Coos County, OR, Curry County, OR, Douglas County, OR

The radar

The Medford radar (KMAX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Salem/Mcnary, OR (KSLE), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 226 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Salem/Mcnary, OR at 12:00Z on 2026-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Salem/Mcnary, OR at 12:00Z on 2026-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 15 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
553 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
15 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
3 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

504 
WHUS46 KMFR 261910
CFWMFR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Medford OR
1210 PM PDT Tue May 26 2026

ORZ021-022-271200-
/O.NEW.KMFR.BH.S.0007.260528T0600Z-260529T0900Z/
South Central Oregon Coast-Curry County Coast-
1210 PM PDT Tue May 26 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING
THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...A moderate risk for sneaker waves is expected.

* WHERE...Douglas, Coos ,and Curry county beaches. 

* WHEN...From Wednesday evening through late Thursday night.

* IMPACTS...Sneaker waves can run up significantly farther on
  beaches than normal, including over rocks and jetties. These
  waves can suddenly knock people off of their feet and sweep them
  into the ocean. The waves can also move logs or other objects
  which could crush or trap anyone caught underneath.

* View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid climbing on rocks and jetties. Stay away from the ocean and
remain out of the water to avoid hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/Medford
4 follow-up statements
401 
WHUS46 KMFR 271027
CFWMFR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Medford OR
327 AM PDT Wed May 27 2026

ORZ021-022-280000-
/O.CON.KMFR.BH.S.0007.260528T0600Z-260529T0900Z/
South Central Oregon Coast-Curry County Coast-
327 AM PDT Wed May 27 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING
THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...A moderate risk for sneaker waves is expected.

* WHERE...The beaches of Douglas, Coos, and Curry counties.

* WHEN...From this evening through late Thursday night.

* IMPACTS...Sneaker waves can run up significantly farther on 
  beaches than normal, including over rocks and jetties. These 
  waves can suddenly knock people off of their feet and sweep 
  them into the ocean. The waves can also move logs or other 
  objects which could crush or trap anyone caught underneath.

* View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid climbing on rocks and jetties. Stay away from the ocean and
remain out of the water to avoid hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/Medford
225 
WHUS46 KMFR 271827
CFWMFR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Medford OR
1127 AM PDT Wed May 27 2026

ORZ021-022-281100-
/O.EXT.KMFR.BH.S.0007.260528T0000Z-260529T0900Z/
South Central Oregon Coast-Curry County Coast-
1127 AM PDT Wed May 27 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT NOW IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM PDT THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...A moderate risk for sneaker waves is expected.

* WHERE...The beaches of Douglas, Coos, and Curry counties.

* WHEN...From 5 PM PDT this afternoon through late Thursday 
  night.

* IMPACTS...Sneaker waves can run up significantly farther on 
  beaches than normal, including over rocks and jetties. These 
  waves can suddenly knock people off of their feet and sweep 
  them into the ocean. The waves can also move logs or other 
  objects which could crush or trap anyone caught underneath.

* View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid climbing on rocks and jetties. Stay away from the ocean and
remain out of the water to avoid hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/Medford
581 
WHUS46 KMFR 280255
CFWMFR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Medford OR
755 PM PDT Wed May 27 2026

ORZ021-022-281600-
/O.CON.KMFR.BH.S.0007.000000T0000Z-260529T0900Z/
South Central Oregon Coast-Curry County Coast-
755 PM PDT Wed May 27 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE
THURSDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...A moderate risk for sneaker waves is expected.

* WHERE...The beaches of Douglas, Coos, and Curry counties.

* WHEN...From 5 PM PDT this afternoon through late Thursday 
  night. 

* IMPACTS...Sneaker waves can run up significantly farther on 
  beaches than normal, including over rocks and jetties. These 
  waves can suddenly knock people off of their feet and sweep 
  them into the ocean. The waves can also move logs or other 
  objects which could crush or trap anyone caught underneath. 

* View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid climbing on rocks and jetties. Stay away from the ocean and
remain out of the water to avoid hazardous conditions.

&&

$$
356 
WHUS46 KMFR 280938
CFWMFR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Medford OR
238 AM PDT Thu May 28 2026

ORZ021-022-290900-
/O.CON.KMFR.BH.S.0007.000000T0000Z-260529T0900Z/
South Central Oregon Coast-Curry County Coast-
238 AM PDT Thu May 28 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...A moderate risk for sneaker waves is expected.

* WHERE...The beaches of Douglas, Coos, and Curry counties.

* WHEN...Until 2 AM PDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Sneaker waves can run up significantly farther on 
  beaches than normal, including over rocks and jetties. These 
  waves can suddenly knock people off of their feet and sweep 
  them into the ocean. The waves can also move logs or other 
  objects which could crush or trap anyone caught underneath.

* View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid climbing on rocks and jetties. Stay away from the ocean and
remain out of the water to avoid hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/Medford

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at May 26, 4:37 AM PDT, 7 hours 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 4:37 AM PDT, 7 hours 33 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
437 AM PDT Tue May 26 2026

.DISCUSSION...Updated aviation discussion for 12z TAFs.

&&

.AVIATION...26/12Z TAFS...MVFR and areas of IFR (south coast) will
continue at the coast with rain showers through this morning.
Inland, expect rain showers, mountain obscurations, and lower
ceilings with areas of MVFR, mainly from the Cascades west, but also
locally east of the Cascades. Conditions gradually improve to
VFR late this morning and afternoon, though higher mountains
probably remain at least partially obscured. There is a slight
chance of thunderstorms this afternoon/early evening, but
especially in NorCal. Areas of MVFR may redevelop (20-30% chance)
late Tuesday evening/night along the coast and into the Umpqua
Valley. -Spilde

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 248 AM PDT Tue May 26 2026/

KEY MESSAGES...

 * Much cooler area wide today compared to yesterday with inland
   areas about 10-20F below normal. Breezy east side, but not as
   windy as yesterday.

 * Showers and thunderstorms continue through the rest of the week
   with a peak in coverage Wed/Thu. Some storms could be strong
   (severe?), each of those afternoons. High temperatures range
   from near normal to about 10F below normal.

 * Another trough swings through Saturday with isolated
   shower/t-storm activity, mainly NorCal and far east side.

 * Drier and warmer conditions are likely to follow Sunday into
   next week.

DISCUSSION...A cold front and well-mixed lower atmosphere
brought quite the wind storm to portions of the Rogue Valley
yesterday afternoon. It was one of the windiest days that I can
remember with winds from a WNW direction. Most of our strongest
wind storms are from offshore lows that bring SE winds. The
airport here in Medford measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph and
there were quite a few power outages reported along with branches
and tree limbs down. While it was windy in most areas yesterday,
the strongest winds were fairly localized to here (peak gusts over
the east side and in NorCal were mostly in the 35-55 mph range).

The remains of the front are pushing well to the east of the
Cascades early this morning. Meanwhile, a deep closed, upper low
will break away from the main branch of the jet stream and drift
southward over the area today. It will settle into the Great
Basin around Lake Tahoe tonight, then will sit and spin there for
a couple of days (Wed/Thu). This will bring cooler, unsettled
weather to much of SW Oregon and NorCal during the next few days
with scattered/numerous showers and also isolated/scattered
thunderstorms. While the forecast sounds wet (and some places will
be - especially from the Cascades eastward), there should be
plenty of longer, drier breaks due to the showery nature of
precipitation.

Radar imagery this morning is showing a fairly persistent area of
rain from western Modoc up into Lake County with precipitation
more showery from the Cascades westward. Wetting rain did fall at
the coast and over to the Cascades yesterday as well as parts of
the East Side (to the north and east of Klamath Falls). But, many
valley locations did indeed get skipped over so far with only
trace amounts measured at Medford and Roseburg and no rain
measured at Klamath Falls. Even so, fire weather risk is much
lower today due to higher humidity and lighter winds. Today will
be the coolest day since the core of the closed low will be moving
overhead (H5 temps of approx -25C). This will bring high
temperatures generally 10-20F below normal for areas inland from
the coast (50-55F east side and 55-65F west of the Cascades).
Instability is greatest over NorCal, but there could be a rumble
or two of thunder just about anywhere showers pop up this
afternoon/evening.

Multiple short wave disturbances will rotate around the closed
low tonight through Thursday and this will keep things active over
the area with coverage of showers/thunderstorms greatest from the
Cascades south and east. Even so, mid-level flow surrounding the
low is fairly strong and will carry convection off to the west,
which could traverse the Cascades and move over portions of the
west side at times. Models are showing an area of showers rotating
through from ENE to WSW tonight, eventually falling apart or
dissipating Wednesday morning.

Things destabilize again Wednesday afternoon, as another short
wave arrives from northern Nevada. Model lightning probabilities
increase Wed afternoon, especially over the East Side with shear
(40-50kt) and CAPE values becoming robust (>500 J/KG). Some of the
hi-res guidance (particularly HRRR) show cells organizing into a
line of storms as it moves westward over the area. It's difficult
to assess exactly where and if this will occur, but could result
in some strong to possibly severe storms with gusty outflow winds
and hail. We'll continue to monitor this potential. As it moves
over the west side, it should run into more stable air, so thunder
probability decreases farther west. Thursday appears to be the
most robust day in terms of CAPE, so we'll probably have another
fairly active afternoon/evening.

Eventually, enough energy will move across the north Pacific to
cause the low to eject to the ENE into Utah/Idaho/western Wyoming
late this week into this weekend (Fri/Sat) with another weaker
upper trough moving through the PacNW Saturday into Sunday. Drier
and much warmer conditions should develop by early next week.
-Spilde

MARINE...Updated 230 AM PDT Tuesday, May 26, 2026...Steep to
locally very steep (outer waters beyond 40NM from shore) northwest
swell-dominated seas will continue to build into the waters today,
peaking at 13 to 18 ft at 14 seconds. While seas will gradually
subside tonight into Wednesday morning, they are expected to remain
steep and hazardous.

After brief, slight improvement, high pressure offshore and
lingering low pressure inland will again bring increasing north
winds on Wednesday afternoon with the strongest winds likely to
occur south of Gold Beach. The gusty north winds and a long period
west-northwest swell will continue steep seas Wednesday night, and
possibly during Thursday and Thursday night also. Conditions may
briefly improve on Friday. -Spilde

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...CA...None.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Thursday
     for PZZ356-370-376.

Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM PDT Wednesday for PZZ350.

     Hazardous Seas Warning until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for PZZ370-
     376.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Medford, OR issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 12:36 PM PDTHazardous Seas WarningMFR46 hr

Nearby

Beach Hazards Statements in Oregon, 2026Every beach hazards statement in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.