Heavy rain and wind wash ashore along coast

SEASIDE, Ore. – On top of an existing high-wind warning, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch Wednesday night for coastal regions in northern Oregon and southwest Washington as residents braced for another night of wind and rain.

The flood watch will go into effect at midnight Wednesday and will last through Friday afternoon.

By Wednesday night winds from the storm forced the rain sideways. The onslaught continued into Thursday morning.

But earlier in the day, Seaside resident Jessie Shipwrack went for a stroll in shorts.

“I love this weather, so I’m having fun,” he said.

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Others weren’t so casual about the storm and grabbed the necessities like food and pet supplies. Some headed to Coast Hardware to buy flashlights and batteries.

Owner Kyle Cornthwaite said during the big storm of 2007 batteries became scarce so he had to limit purchases to two packs per customer.

Residents said they’re stocking up early this time around, because they learned the hard way through their experience in 2007.

“I think people this year are more prepared than they have been the last two storms,” said Joann Vandenberg.

The city of Seaside issued a winter storm warning and urged residents to prepare for flooding and to secure their properties. It also urged people to stay off the beach over the next 36 hours.

But that didn't stop everyone from taking in natures fury. Several people could be seen walking along the oceanfront walkways as the sea churned and the wind and rain lashed the town.