U.S. COAST GUARD: Coast Guard urges preparedness ahead of heavy weather in Pacific Northwest

The Coast Guard Northwest District is urging all commercial mariners, recreational boaters, and coastal visitors throughout the Pacific Northwest to prepare for heavy weather season.

Many accidents on the water and along the coast can be prevented by taking basic safety precautions, including wearing a life jacket, planning ahead and maintaining situational awareness.

The Coast Guard recommends the following precautions to stay safe:

Wear a life jacket. Drowning accounts for 76 percent of boating deaths. You can find more information on life jackets here: Safe Boating Campaign – Life Jackets.

Check bar conditions. Under federal law, crossing a closed or restricted bar is strictly prohibited without Captain of the Port authorization. Bar statuses are broadcast on VHF-FM Ch. 16 and 22A. They are also available online here: Local Bar Observations.

File a float plan. Always leave a detailed itinerary with a family member, marina operator, or reliable shore contact. Detail your planned route, vessel description, passenger count, and expected return time.

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.

Check the weather. Check tides, currents, and the latest National Weather Service Coastal Waters Forecast before setting sail or tune into NOAA Weather Radio. Ensure your vessel is capable of handling the weather conditions.

Shoreline Hazards

The Coast Guard urges clam diggers, hikers, and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution near the water’s edge.

Watch out for sneaker waves. Sneaker waves are disproportionately large, powerful waves that appear suddenly without warning between sets of smaller waves, surging much farther inland than normal surf.

Avoid waterlogged drift logs. Heavy surf easily lifts and rolls multi-ton driftwood logs resting on beaches, posing fatal crush and entrapment hazards. Stay well above the high-tide line and never sit, stand, or walk on drift logs in the active tidal zone.

Stay off jetties and coastal rocks. Breaking waves wash over rocky breakwaters and seawalls with explosive energy, easily sweeping bystanders into turbulent, cold currents.

Respect frigid water temperatures. Pacific Northwest coastal waters remain dangerously cold year-round. Cold water shock can incapacitate a person within minutes, leading to rapid loss of motor function and hypothermia. Keep children close and pets on leashes.

Emergency Contacts

If you encounter an emergency on the water or observe someone swept into the surf, immediately contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 or dial 911. You can also reach regional Coast Guard command centers directly:

Sector Puget Sound command center: (833) 449-0369

Sector Columbia River command center: (833) 769-8724

Bar Report Contacts

For the most real-time updates on bar conditions, you can find reports online: Local Bar Observations, tune into VHF-16/22A, or contact local Coast Guard units directly by telephone: