Marine Forecast
Illustrated map of Cowlitz River at Randle

Marine forecast

Cape Shoalwater–Cape Falcon (10-60 nm), WA

current wind
10 kt S
Gusts
12 kt
Seas
4.6 ft
Period
11 sec
Air
55°F

Observed Tue 12:10 PM | PZZ271

Gusts now
12 kt
Seas now
4.6 ft · 11 sec
Air
55°F
Water
57°F
72-hr peak
10 kt

In brief

At 12:10 pm PDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station 46029 (COLUMBIA RIVER BAR - 20NM West of Columbia River Mouth, 11 miles away) measured wind from the S at 10 kt, gusting to 12 kt; buoy 46248 measured seas of 4.6 ft. The NWS forecast for Cape Shoalwater–Cape Falcon (10-60 nm), WA issued at 1:30 am PDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for today: “S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 6 ft.”

Source: National Weather Service Portland OR forecast; NDBC observations

Wind forecast · ktPeak 10 kt

051015Wed 14Thu 15Fri 16051015Wed 14Thu 15Fri 16
Sustained GustOct 13-16 | PDT

Seas forecast · ftPeak 6 ft

0123456Wed 14Thu 15Fri 160123456Wed 14Thu 15Fri 16
Oct 13-16 | PDT

NWS marine forecast

PeriodForecast
TodayS wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 4 seconds, W 5 ft at 14 seconds and SW 2 ft at 15 seconds. A slight chance of rain early this morning.
TonightS wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 4 seconds, W 5 ft at 14 seconds and SW 2 ft at 15 seconds.
WedS wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 4 seconds, W 6 ft at 13 seconds and S 3 ft at 17 seconds.
Wed NightE wind around 5 kt, backing to NE after midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 12 seconds and S 2 ft at 17 seconds.
ThuNE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: NE 2 ft at 4 seconds, W 5 ft at 12 seconds and S 2 ft at 16 seconds.
Thu NightNE wind around 5 kt. Seas 4 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds and S 2 ft at 15 seconds.
FriW wind around 5 kt. Seas around 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds and S 2 ft at 15 seconds.
Fri NightSW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 5 ft, building to 6 to 7 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 4 seconds, W 7 ft at 11 seconds and S 2 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of rain.
SatNW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 6 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 12 seconds and S 2 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.
Sat NightN wind around 5 kt. Seas 7 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 14 seconds and S 2 ft at 14 seconds.

Issued Tue 1:30 AM by Portland OR (product CWFPQR).

TimeWindGustSeasWater
Tue 12:10 PM 10 kt S 12 kt — 57°F
Tue 11:50 AM 10 kt SSE 12 kt 4.3 ft 57°F
Tue 10:50 AM 8 kt SSE 10 kt 4.6 ft 57°F
Tue 9:50 AM 8 kt S 10 kt 4.6 ft 57°F
Tue 8:50 AM 8 kt S 10 kt 4.6 ft 57°F
Tue 7:50 AM 8 kt S 8 kt 4.9 ft 57°F
Tue 6:50 AM 8 kt S 8 kt 4.3 ft 57°F
Tue 5:50 AM 6 kt S 6 kt 4.6 ft 57°F
Tue 4:50 AM 6 kt S 8 kt 4.9 ft 56°F
Tue 3:50 AM 6 kt S 8 kt 4.6 ft 57°F
Tue 2:50 AM 4 kt SSE 6 kt 4.9 ft 57°F
Tue 1:50 AM 4 kt SE 6 kt 4.9 ft 56°F

Observed Tue 12:10 PM at NDBC buoy 46029 (COLUMBIA RIVER BAR - 20NM West of Columbia River Mouth), 10.9 miles away. Seas from buoy 46248 (Astoria Canyon, OR (179)), 7.9 miles away, at Tue 11:56 AM.

What is the marine forecast for Cape Shoalwater–Cape Falcon (10-60 nm) today?

Today: S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 4 seconds, W 5 ft at 14 seconds and SW 2 ft at 15 seconds. A slight chance of rain early this morning.

Is there a small craft advisory for Cape Shoalwater–Cape Falcon (10-60 nm)?

No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone PZZ271 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.

How high are the waves at Cape Shoalwater–Cape Falcon (10-60 nm) right now?

Seas are running 4.6 ft at a 11-second period, measured at NDBC buoy 46029 Tue 12:10 PM, 10.9 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 6.0 ft Wed 2 PM.

What is the water temperature at Cape Shoalwater–Cape Falcon (10-60 nm)?

The nearest buoy read 57°F (14°C) at Tue 12:10 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.

What do the wind speeds in knots mean?

One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.

Where does this forecast come from?

The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone PZZ271, issued by Portland OR, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.

Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFPQR, issued Tue 1:30 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station 46029, read Tue 12:10 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 12:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.