good on-line weather source

C

colobear

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C Dory Year
2006
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
When planning last week's trip to the Gulf Islands I came across a Canadian weather source that has some very nice features. The web address is: WWW.weathernetwork.ca and it is put out by the Canadian government. It allows me to select two cities, US or Canada to monitor. I can have them on my start tray continuously so while trip planning I can instantly see weather in the area. I had Sidney and Victoria BC set up and got a continuous readout with a five day forecast and a 14 day trend immediately available. I am also able to set up automatic notification of weather alerts in the two areas so if there is a weather alert it automatically appears in my e-mail inbox. It is very easy to change cities so now my tray shows weather in Denver and Phoenix where we are soon going to visit family. It also allows me to setup a routine weather e-mail giving conditions in an area of interest, for example right now I get a daily report on wind, temp, and wave conditions in Haro Strait with forecasts for morning, noon and late day. All that shows in the tray is a small box with current temp (in either centigrade or farenheit). passing the mouse over it give a quick synopsis, i.e. in Denver it is now 30 degrees with a few clouds. I have found it to be very helpful.

What are your favorite weather sources?
 
When I venture offshore I really need accurate wind and swell forecasts. The NOAA forecasts have been less than helpful since they forecast for vast regions of ocean. Many times I would cancel a fishing trip based on their wind and wave forecasts only to find out the conditions at the port I was going to use were much different (better). Myself and many others have found http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/ to be very accurate and has improved my understanding of the expected conditions immensly. CLick on the region you boat in and keep doing so until your fully zoomed in. You get a color map of wind, waves, period ect. I still check the NOAA forecast but have found wetsand to be more accurate. I think NOAA generally predicts worst case scenario for a large portion of the coast. THe gradient maps really do help alot. Ignore the surf chart as there's very little correlation to ocean conditions.
 
Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
 
So come on Barry. How was the trip?? Where are the pictures?
Cabin Fevered minds wish to know !

Merv
 
Although it's used mostly by the surfer community, I like to look wetsands.com to forecast the swells on Nantucket sound. I also check the NOAA buoy stats but they are not predictive.
 
Grumpy,
So as to not hijack this thread I'll post on what did you do on your c-dory today
 
For a weekend trip I too follow the regular surface forecast on the news, NOAA (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/zone/east/boxmz.htm), then monitor the VHF WX info once aboard.

The buoy's are a nice reference but I find they are only useful if you will be near them. The information from a buoy 20nm out to sea will not necessarily tell me about conditions within a mile from the shore for example. I wish they installed these buoys closer to shore for my usual cruising (dive sites closer to shore, in harbors, etc.)
 
matt_unique":2t2wcoqi said:
For a weekend trip I too follow the regular surface forecast on the news, NOAA (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/zone/east/boxmz.htm), then monitor the VHF WX info once aboard.

The buoy's are a nice reference but I find they are only useful if you will be near them. The information from a buoy 20nm out to sea will not necessarily tell me about conditions within a mile from the shore for example. I wish they installed these buoys closer to shore for my usual cruising (dive sites closer to shore, in harbors, etc.)
Click to expand...

That is why I use the wetsands website. Seriously, give it a try and check their forecast against actual on the water conditions. I think you will find that they are pretty darn accurate. Here's a sample picture of swell hight for you area. The image is lacking the scale for hieght but you get that when you view the actual website.

NEasthf1.gif


Here's one for my area for this monday. THe big purple area represents 30 foot swells. Don't think I'll check the on water conditions for camparison though.

WAORhf5.gif
 
Oops got my spelling wrong :oops:
It's wetsand.com NOT wetsandS.com.
Poor memory - must be the mad cow :lol:
 
Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author
 
colobear":15y6o736 said:
When planning last week's trip to the Gulf Islands I came across a Canadian weather source that has some very nice features. The web address is: WWW.weathernetwork.ca and it is put out by the Canadian government. It allows me to select two cities, US or Canada to monitor. I can have them on my start tray continuously so while trip planning I can instantly see weather in the area. I had Sidney and Victoria BC set up and got a continuous readout with a five day forecast and a 14 day trend immediately available. I am also able to set up automatic notification of weather alerts in the two areas so if there is a weather alert it automatically appears in my e-mail inbox. It is very easy to change cities so now my tray shows weather in Denver and Phoenix where we are soon going to visit family. It also allows me to setup a routine weather e-mail giving conditions in an area of interest, for example right now I get a daily report on wind, temp, and wave conditions in Haro Strait with forecasts for morning, noon and late day. All that shows in the tray is a small box with current temp (in either centigrade or farenheit). passing the mouse over it give a quick synopsis, i.e. in Denver it is now 30 degrees with a few clouds. I have found it to be very helpful.

What are your favorite weather sources?
Click to expand...


http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/PK/141.html
 
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