(Oregon Coast) – Thursday’s brief storm on the coast created a spectacular array of moments and sights along the shoreline, and it brought more than a few tourists around to watch the tidal madness as well as the confused animals.Wind gusts were reported in the 90’s in some spots, while many others received them in the 70’s or 80’s. Although the big winds are gone, the stormy conditions haven’t quite disappeared, possibly bringing in some oddities like lightning or funnel clouds. 
In Yachats, Marsella Charron runs Yachats Wine Trader, which overlooks the already dramatic bay in the tiny town. “Yesterday we had some storm watchers in,” she said. “A few of them heard about the big storm and came over from Eugene to see it. One customer was a writer who is writing a novel that takes place during a hurricane. He was coming over to experience the storm and use it for inspiration.”
Big waves slam into the rocks near Depoe BayCarole Barkhurst of the Depoe Bay Visitors Center took it all in stride, and was more amused by the sights than anything. “We locals usually find the storms are not as great as we had hoped they would be,” Barkhurst. “This one gave us great wind bursts and periods of heavy rain, but all in all it was only just a medium storm. The birds were really fun in this one as they seemed quite perplexed and were frequently flying back and forth instead of south. The pelicans especially were confused.”
In Seaside, Mike Exinger of Zinger’s Homemade Ice Cream was also amused as he watch the Seaside High School homecoming parade slink down Broadway. “We were outside watching just as the skies emptied,” Exinger said. “All the kids were riding in open trucks and floats - which took on a new meaning - and were totally soaked. Since the team hasn’t won a game all year, this could be an omen.”Weiss' Paradise Suites & Vacation Rentals - Seaside
Unique Luxury Accommodations in Seaside. 1BR Suites, 1BR & 2BR Duplex Units and 3BR Houses, units for 2-8 people. Rent entire property for 20-26. Close to beach, river and Broadway St. Suites are designed for two adults; vacation rental units for families. All units have kitchen and many have fireplace, deck and jetted tub. Comfy robes, slippers, luxury bath amenities, quality linens and more. 741 S. Downing St., Seaside. 800-738-6691. http://www.seasidesuites.com/Brian Hines, owner of San Dune Inn in Manzanita wasn’t sure how the weather pundits got gusts up to 90 miles an hour. “It was pretty much a non-event here,” Hines said. “Power flickered off for about two seconds, and that’s about it. "No hordes showing up to watch the storm. There were sun breaks today coupled with showers on and off.”There’s more nuttiness on the way, and the weather is already bringing more surprises to the region.
The National Weather Service has issued some unusual warnings for western Oregon, including the coast and coast range, partially because of a small tornado that touched down near Hubbard on Friday. An unstable air mass over southwest Washington and northwest Oregon is still quite unstable on Friday night, posing the risk of a funnel cloud or tornado, as well as dangerous lightning. Flashes of lightning have already been seen all evening in the Portland area and to the west, near the coast range. The NWS says the “risk of a funnel cloud will continue there” throughout Friday night.
Hail is also possible, as well as gusts up to around 30 mph. The NWS also urges the public to watch out for lightning that ends up directly above them. 
With continued blustery weather and rain, a high surf warning has also been issued for the Oregon coast, which means enormous swells and officials telling people to stay off the beaches.“Storm-watchers need to be very cautious about where they go to observe, remembering that winds with big gusts could send pieces of the beach toward one and/or one's vehicle,” said Newport beach expert Guy DiTorrice. “Smart to stay off the beach, opting for a higher, safer point for observing. Remember that we lost a couple tourists last year who were sitting on a sandstone headland undercut by huge waves taking them out to sea.”
D Sands Condominium Motel, Lincoln City. Free, fresh baked cookie upon check-in is just the start. All rooms beachfront and up against Lincoln City's most famous stretch of beach: the D River. Each room comes as a suite or mini-suite, and has a kitchen and balcony or patio. Some w/ gas fireplaces, while all have a DVD Players; movies to rent come with free popcorn. Heated indoor pool, a spa, and this fabulous beach is lit at night. Rooms sleep from two, four to six - including a deluxe fireplace suite. Gift certificates orspecial occasion packages. http://www.dsandsmotel.com/. 171 S.W. Highway 101. 800-527-3925.
Arch Cape Property Services. Dozens of homes in that dreamy, rugged stretch between Cannon Beach and Manzanita known as Arch Cape. Oceanfront and ocean view , or just a short walk from the sea.
All homes are immaculate and smoke free; some pet friendly (with a fee). Some with broadband, indoor or outdoor hot tubs, fireplaces, decks, and fire pits or barbecues. Call about tempting winter specials that go until March (not valid holidays, however). http://www.archcaperentals.com/ 866-436-1607.
STARFISH POINT Newport - Offers only the finest in luxury condominium lodging. Every unit is focused on the beauty of the sea and the beach.All units boast two bedrooms, two bathrooms, designer kitchens, wireless broadband Internet, fireplaces, Jacuzzi’s and private decks. Friendly staff dedicated to high quality and superb customer service. 140 NW 48th Street, Newport. (541) 265-3751. (800) 870-7795. http://www.starfishpoint.com/
Tradewinds Motel, Rockaway Beach. All rooms are immaculate and have TV’s, VCR’s and in-room phones w/ data ports. Oceanfronts have queen bed, a double hide-a-bed, kitchen, cozy firelog fireplace and private deck. Both types sleep up to four people. Others are appointed for a two-person romantic getaway, yet still perfect for those on a budget. Elaborate oceanfront Jacuzzi suite has two bedrooms, kitchen, double hide-a-bed, fireplace and private deck, sleeping as many as six. For family reunions or large gatherings such as weddings, some rooms can connect to create two-room and three-room suites. Some rooms pet friendly. 523 N. Pacific St., Rockaway Beach. (503) 355-2112 - 1-800-824-0938. www.tradewinds-motel.comDIVE INTO LUXURY, HISTORY AT THE TIDES
Inn at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms. Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly. Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. http://www.atcannonbeach.com/.
The Ocean Lodge. There will not be another property built like this in Cannon Beach in our lifetimes. Rare, premiere ocean front location; handsome, dramatic architecture and tasteful, fun (nostalgic) beach interiors. Overlooks Haystack Rock. 100 percent smoke free. Imaginative special occasion packages. Massive wood burning lobby fireplace. Library w/ fireplace, stocked with impressive book collection. Pet and family friendly. Lavish continental buffet breakfast. In-room fireplaces, mini-kitchens. Jacuzzi tubs in select rooms. DVD players, complimentary movies. Morning paper. Warm cookies. 888-777-4047. 503-436-2241. 2864 Pacific Street. Cannon Beach, Oregon. http://www.theoceanlodge.com/
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ASTORIAWhere the Columbia meets the Pacific, Land of Lewis & Clark and loads of atmosphere & history
SEASIDE
The Promenade, Tillamook Head, family fun & broad, sandy beaches
CANNON BEACHA mysterious lighthouse, upscale yet earthy, a huge monolith, fine eateries & an art mecca
NEHALEM BAY
Manzanita's beaches, Nehalem and Wheeler's quirky beauty; laid back Rockaway
TILLAMOOK BAY
Garibaldi, Barview, Bay City, Tillamook & an oceanfront ghost town
THREE CAPES LOOP
The hidden secret of the coast: Cape Meares, a lighthouse, Oceanside, Netarts and Pacific City
DEPOE BAYA spouting horn downtown, freaky hidden cliffs and whales, whales, whales
NEWPORTTime-tripping Nye Beach, a bustling bayfront, marine science-central and two lighthouses
YACHATS
Constantly dramatic wave action, a mix of the rugged & upscale
FLORENCE
A lighthouse, ancient bayfront and miles and miles of fluffy dunes
The southern end of Indian Beach, part of Tillamook Head, has its origins in a massive lava flow some 15 million years ago.(Oregon Coast) - The origin of much of what you see on the Oregon coast began maybe 45 million years ago. The reason this area is so engaging - with its mix of sandy stretches, sandstone structures and then tall, basaltic cliffs of black with sheer drops to the ocean – has much to do with how things slowly got burned into existence, with erosion then playing a sizable part.Hollywood movies couldn't come up with a more scary film idea. It's another case of true science being way stranger than fiction. Oregon coast geology could be a horror movie.About 45 millions years ago, the coastline was actually some 70 to 100 miles inland – theorized to be about where Silver Creek Falls is right now. Tectonic plate movement over time, along with an element of rising and falling ocean levels, brings us to the location of the Oregon coast these days.Then things got really nasty, and some really terrifying geologic events played a major role in what we now see.
The basalts of Depoe Bay were the result of lava flows of this periodPicture this: a massive river of lava erupts in Idaho, so big it covers miles at a time as it marches along at around four mph. It sears entire forests into ashes and fumes. It builds gigantic damns of molten rock that are perhaps miles long, sometime bulging up to 20 feet high. It tromps its way through riverbeds and canyons, snaking its way around mountains, until it slithers its sinister, scorching heat into the ocean – having traveled some 300 miles, about seven days later. It’s hundreds of miles long, spewing out continuously and fiercely so that when it reaches the ocean it fills crevices and muddy areas thousands of feet deep.
Cape Foulweather, which towers over the sea, came from an eruption hundreds of miles longThe coast at that time was about 15 miles farther inland than it is now. According to Seaside geologist Tom Horning, sometimes these lava flows poured into the ocean and then they spread out through the soft marine sediments for dozens of miles, burrowing into the layers. They then managed to come back up elsewhere, re-erupting through thousands of feet of muck, onto the sea floor, essentially making their own eruptions for a brief time (geologically speaking). They then cooled to become solid basalt. Over millions of years, some of these massive invasions of lava were lifted with the sediments above sea level with the rising of the coast range. They in turn were eroded away, until they formed headlands and features we now know as Neahkahnie Mountain near Manzanita or Tillamook Head between Seaside and Cannon Beach. 
Cape Lookout, the long, shadowy figure in the distance, is seen from OceansideAnother kind of lava flow that formed the headlands we know and love is called intra-canyon flows. These kinds of flows snaked their way to the coast through riverbeds and around other land features, arriving at the coast to build up and up out of deltas of rubbly submarine pillow basalt. These were then capped by sheets of dry-land lava flows.Meanwhile, the ocean levels rose and fell around the landmasses and basalt shapes a few times. They too were eroded by time and water into shapes we now know as Cape Foulweather, Cape Lookout, Yaquina Head and Cape Meares.Numerous such lava flows (perhaps around 300) erupted from about 12 million years ago to 17 million years ago, according Horning. They happened approximately every 100,000 to 200,000 years, creating their own kind of havoc, but in turn laying the groundwork (pun intended) for the beauty we now see.
Neahkahnie Mountain, overlooking Manzanita, was a laval flow that got lifted up and down several times over millions of yearsMeanwhile, millions of years earlier, Cascade Head was its own volcano, said Horning of the large, looming headland just north of Lincoln City. And what about those mini-eruptions that happened just offshore? Horning said they’re often responsible for many of the coast’s most famous landmarks.“Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach was one of those,” Horning said. “Sea stacks are often from submarine feeders for the re-erupting lavas. They’re all part of plumbing systems.” Erosion also plays a major part in what you see with that famous structure (which is currently the third highest sea stack in the world), along with the oceans rising, falling and the land doing the same.“The basalt that Haystack Rock is made of is about 15 million years old,” Horning said. “It was an enormous hill of rock until about 3000 years ago, when rising sea levels allowed the surf to wash away all but the strongest lava/basalt. Some 4000 to 5000 feet of the original submarine volcano is missing from it now, having been eroded for more than 12 million years.”
Everybody's favorite Oregon coast icon, Haystack Rock, was one of those oddball invasive flows, where parts of one lava flow shot back down deep into the earth, then re-erupted elsewhere. It's basically a little eruption, born of a bigger one.More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... 
Oregon Coast Right Now: Depoe Bay at Dusk, Aug. 24. Between the lights on the channel, street lamps, traffic on the bridge, blurry people walking past and the varied colors of the buildings, dusk can make the town look a bit like a bunch of Christmas lights. More About Depoe Bay LodgingMore About Depoe Bay Restaurants, Dining 
Ethereal Night Just South of Cannon Beach. The overlook/pull-offs just south of Cannon Beach are one of the more remarkable experiences on the coast, and the de rigueur first-stops for those who have just entered 101 – especially those who have not seen the beach before. Silver Point is the name of the main lookout, which provides eye-popping glimpses of Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock to the north, a nearly endless seascape due west and some interesting wave action, and then hotspots like Hug Point to the south.But what about these spots at night? Not much to see, correct?Wrong. It does depend on the night, actually. But in this case, on this warm August night, the stars are out in full force and the occasional shooting star comes streaking through. This sea of stars is met by the salty sea, which is then given an ethereal, strange red glow because of an orange moon, almost full, that ducks in and out of a line of clouds. It creates some interesting shapes above and below it, making it look a bit like a sunrise.But it is, in fact, the moon - and it’s trying to set below the horizon.Sometimes a shy subject does make a better subject, photographically.More About Cannon Beach Lodging, HotelsMore About Cannon Beach Restaurants, Dining
Depoe Bay and a Summer Storm? It’s mid summer on the Oregon coast, and a little chilly and windy, but otherwise glorious sun and blue occupy the skies. What is odd is the proliferation of massive waves, however. It’s more like a spring storm. The end result is the combo of lovely conditions and dramatic ocean create quite the pleasant sight.Another instance of curious coastal dichotomies in the world of weather.At the extreme southern end of the Depoe Bay bridge, there’s a little viewpoint tucked away that allows glimpses of this side of the bay’s jetty and structures. A small tree here helps fill the photo with more visual information about the town.More About Depoe Bay LodgingMore About Depoe Bay Restaurants, Dining
Cape Kiwanda and a Secret Hidden in Plain Sight. The gargantuan, sweeping cliffs of Pacific City’s Cape Kiwanda is one of the legendary spots on the coast, sucking in gawkers for generations. Climbing up these steep slopes is have the fun, then exploring the otherworldly expanse of pock-marked landscapes and structures on the top. From some spots, you can see the winding labyrinth of small headlands and odd shapes that meander throughout the northern end, all up against the raging sea below.Everyone knows what Cape Kiwanda looks like from the usual, slightly frenetic parking lot at the southern end. But what’s on the other side?A hidden park on the northern face of the cape allows driving on the beach, and from its access it’s almost a mile to the sloped dunes and golden structures of the landmark. From this vantage point, more engaging shapes appear. It becomes apparent that a major chunk of the cliff eroded somewhere in the past, leaving an almost spire-like chunk of that sandstone sitting just a ways off the main structure – also with a tuft of vegetation on the top.There’s also an arch in here, inside of which you can see colossal waves igniting up against the boulders and other rock formations. More About Pacific City, Oceanside, Netarts, Tierra Del Mar LodgingMore About Pacific City, Oceanside, Netarts, Tierra Del Mar Restaurants