RAINYRAMBLES
Keep your eye on the storm
Tips for safe weather
watching on the North Coast
BY REBECCA LEXA
Mallory Gruben
A boat launch for Tillamook Bay just east of Cape Meares Beach became inundated with
water during the king tide event on Nov. 7.
Continued from Page 8
“You can take photos of the regular
high tides all year long any time, and then
on the Flickr site you can see what the
difference is between a regular high tide
and then a king tide,” said Jones. “That’s
pretty cool to see, and it’s a really good
educational tool for people to see how
their communities are inundated by these
king tides, which will be reaching further
inward every year, according to science.”
Each person who submits photos is eli-
gible to win a prize; prizes will be distrib-
uted in February. The project will selects
winners in five categories including:
coastal flooding, coastal erosion, waves,
comparison and people’s choice.
‘It is possible to take photos from
a safe place’
Jones stressed the importance of citizen
photographers staying off the beach and
aware of their surroundings while taking
photos of king tides.
“Stay safe. Take photos from a safe dis-
tance. That’s part of every single message
we put out,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t want
to be part of encouraging any kind of dan-
gerous citizen science activity. It is possi-
ble to take photos from a safe place.”
To safely capture photos of the king
tides, CoastWatch recommends citi-
zen scientists study the tide chart before
selecting a spot the to watch the tides.
They also suggest scouting for spots off
the beach and behind fencing before the
day of the king tides, to properly visu-
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
Waves crash over the South Jetty at Fort
Stevens State Park as people take to the
observation tower to watch a storm.
alize the water levels and identify a safe
location off the beach to stand. Photogra-
phers can shoot from safe distances using
a telephoto or zoom lens, so you can get
close-up photos from a distance. Coast-
Watch and Oregon Coast Management
work to make people aware of when the
king tides will occur, and keep people off
beaches. The project can also help educate
Oregonians about general beach safety,
such as watching for unexpectedly large
“sneaker” waves or checking a tide table
before heading out for the day.
“It’s incredible how many people don’t
even know about the tides,” Jones said.
“This is an opportunity to educate the
public about tides in general.”
While the coast may be best known as a
summer vacation destination, the storms that
roll in from the Pacific Ocean in fall and winter
also bring in their fair share of sightseers.
Few things are as thrilling as watching the
gusts of wind whip up the waves into white-
caps, and hearing them crash against the shore-
line. While many choose to watch the show
from the comfort of home, hotel or other cozy
indoor locale, others gear up for a up close and
personal look.
Unfortunately, many people, especially vis-
itors, don’t understand the danger that these
storms pose.
The agitated ocean can produce sneaker
waves larger and more frequent than on quiet,
calm days — waves which have dragged too
many people into the cold water. Even away
from shore, storm winds can bring down heavy
branches and toss entire trees across roads and
trails. And while lightning isn’t present with
every storm, the risk of lightning strike is still
greater than zero.
So how can you enjoy these magnificent
forces of nature without having the experience
ruined by an emergency? Here are some tips to
stay safe:
• Dress for the weather. Wear plenty of
warm layers, with a waterproof outer shell
and sturdy waterproof footwear. Avoid cot-
ton as it loses its insulating properties when
wet; synthetics are a better choice.Wool will
keep you warm even if it gets wet. Don’t
forget to keep your head and hands warm,
too!
• Keep a respectful distance from the
waterline. Sneaker waves made larger by
storm winds can travel all the way up the
beach to the dunes, treeline or other bound-
ary. The closer you are to the ocean, the
farther you may have to run to escape the
incoming water, which can sometimes
travel faster than some people are able to
move on soft sand. Even 6 inches of water
can be enough to knock a grown adult off
their feet.
• Look out for driftwood, and remem-
ber that waves were what put these mas-
sive dead trees on the beach. Don’t stand on
or near driftwood, as waves can knock you
off — and under — the heavy weight. The
water may also be carrying more driftwood
in from the ocean, and you may not see it
heading your way until it’s too late.
• On the off chance you’re a thrill-seeking
surfer looking to tackle big waves, please
be aware that the coastline on either side of
the Columbia has a lot of rip currents even
on the nicest days. These dangerous currents
can pull people far out to sea, and make
conditions in the water even more risky.
• Keep your dogs leashed at all times
while on the beach, even if they have good
recall. Your dog can quickly run further than
you can easily call them back, and they can
be dragged into the water by sneaker waves.
If your dog gets pulled into the water do
not go in after them; there have been many
instances where a person tried to rescue
their dog, and both ended up drowning.
• In the event someone ends up in the
water and cannot get back onshore by them-
selves, call 911 immediately. Do your best
to keep them in sight. Remember the say-
ing “Reach or throw, don’t go!” If avail-
able, you can throw a rope, flotation device
or other object to the endangered person,
but do not try to bring them in yourself as
it is likely you will also end up trapped and
unable to swim back to shore. Moreover, if
the person is panicking and you are able to
reach them they may try to climb onto you
and push you under the water’s surface.
• If you hear thunder, take shelter! You are
often the highest point on your immediate
expanse of beach, which makes you more
vulnerable. Go inside, or get back in your
car. If you are stuck outside, get away from
the water and avoid trees and cliffs. As a
last resort crouch down (but don’t sit!) with
your head tucked against your knees and
your arms folded over your head.
• Even if you have an entirely safe storm
watching session on the beach, be care-
ful when you’re driving back home or to
your lodging, especially if it’s dark. High
winds can knock a branch or tree into the
road — and even onto your car — with lit-
tle to no warning. Visibility is likely to be
compromised by rain at any time of day
or night, which increases the possibility of
collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians
and wildlife. Slow down, make sure your
lights are on and be extra vigilant to look for
obstacles.
By following these tips, you’re much more
likely to have a safe experience where the most
exciting thing is getting to watch the waves
crash and the storm clouds rumble in.
Rebecca Lexa is an Oregon Master Natu-
ralist, nature educator and writer living on the
Long Beach Peninsula. More about her work
may be found at rebeccalexa.com.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021 // 9