A strong ridge brought north wind waves that combined with a long period west swell to produce sneaker waves along the southern Oregon coast.
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The episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.
A strong ridge brought north wind waves that combined with a long period west swell to produce sneaker waves along the southern Oregon coast.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jan 12, 2:13 PM PST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
213 PM PST Sun Jan 12 2025
.DISCUSSION...Ridging over the northeastern Pacific and broad
troughing over central North America will keep our forecast area
under general high pressure with north flow aloft. A shortwave is
riding this flow from north to south over the area today, but
other than some increased mid to high level clouds, very little
will mark its passage. Tonight into tomorrow, the shortwave will
close off and take up position offshore of southern California and
as a result, the Pacific ridge will tilt inland over the Pacific
Northwest. This ridge then remains in control overhead, or just to
the west of the area for the remainder of the week.
All of this means that the weather will be quiet, and fairly
consistent from day to day this week. Expect fog/freezing fog
and low clouds each overnight and morning for most valleys west
of the Cascades. Confidence is much lower, but valley fog is
possible east of the Cascades as well, although coverage may not
be as widespread or as consistent as to the west. Otherwise,
temperatures will generally see a gradual warming trend through
the week, although any areas in more persistent fog or low clouds
may stay cool. -BPN
&&
.AVIATION...12/18Z TAFS...The fog is not as dense as yesterday
over our TAF sites and is already lifting in some of the valleys.
The inversion at 12Z over KMFR was very weak and shallow and
suggests we should easily burn off the lower ceilings later today.
Therefore, look for VFR ceilings later this afternoon farther inland
and away from the coast. We'll probably see the fog build back into
the valleys later tonight.
Closer to the coast, light showers and MVFR ceilings are possible
later this evening as a short wave travels down the Oregon
coastline. With some offshore flow developing tonight, we're
expecting to eventually clear out along the coast.
-Smith
&&
.MARINE...Updated 230 PM Sunday, January 12, 2025...Breezy
northerly winds will continue to produce steep seas with hazardous
conditions to small crafts through Monday morning. South of Cape
Blanco is where the strongest winds are forecast and hence the
Hazardous Seas Warning. Seas lower a bit on Monday with some weaker
winds, although conditions will still be hazardous to small crafts.
A dry cold front will push through the region on Thursday and the
gusty north winds will likely pick up around that time frame. A
stronger thermal trough could rebuild by the weekend.
-Smith
&&
.BEACH HAZARDS...Updated 230 PM PST Saturday, January 11,
2025...The combination of a building long period west-northwest
swell and a shorter period west swell will bring a moderate risk of
sneaker waves to southern Oregon beaches through Monday morning.
The risk is higher for west facing beaches and on incoming tides.
High tides during the event are Sunday night around midnight and
late Monday morning (10 am). Wave heights are also expected to reach
a peak Monday morning.
Sneaker waves are a type of wave that can run higher up the beach
than a normal wave. Sneaker waves can possibly wash over pathways or
rock outcroppings. They can lift and carry logs, which can then
strike or pin beachgoers. Sneaker waves can knock a person off their
feet and carry them out to deeper waters, where hypothermia becomes
possible. Sneaker waves can pose a lethal threat. As these
conditions are expected while the sun is down, visibility will be
limited. Always keep your eyes on the sea and use extra caution.
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Beach Hazards Statement through Monday morning for ORZ021-022.
CA...None.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM PST Monday
for PZZ350-370.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM PST Monday for PZZ356-376.
Hazardous Seas Warning until 10 AM PST Monday for PZZ376.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 sneakerwave. Local standard time, as filed.
North wind waves combined with a long period west swell to produce sneaker waves along the southern Oregon coast.
North wind waves combined with a long period west swell to produce sneaker waves along the southern Oregon coast.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, January 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1254469, 1254470.