'Purple sailor' jellyfish blanket Pacific beaches
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Thousands of purple jellyfish blanket Pacific beaches
The winds have washed thousands of "purple sailor" jellyfish onto Pacific shores this year. They won't hurt you, but boy do they stink!
KING
The weather may not attract visitors to the Washington coast this Spring break, but the winds have brought in thousands of small jellyfish.
Westerly winds are blamed for blowing the velella velellas, commonly known as "purple sailors," onto West Coast beaches.
The jellyfish are safe to touch, but beachcombers are advised to wash their hands before touching their eyes or mouths after handling the creatures.
The velellas don't wash up every year and some years bring more than others, said Ocean Shores Police Sgt. Joe Brouillard.