NorCal Kayak Anglers

General => General Talk => Topic started by: jeffw on December 15, 2004, 04:08:43 PM

Title: Wind data sources
Post by: jeffw on December 15, 2004, 04:08:43 PM

Howdy guys...I found some new links for coastal wind data in some of the areas we fish. You may be familiar with www.wunderground.com . On their pages they have links for weather buffs to put links to their own personal weather stations. Under "Current conditions"  you will see another link labeled 'personal weather station.' If you click that it will bring up other personal weather stations in the area. There are some personal weather stations that should prove useful for us next salmon season like Muir beach (with surf cam!) and Pacifica. Its nice to know before you go..especiall over the Gate. We'll have to see how accurate they are come spring and the north westerlies. Hopefully these weather buffs have their instruments set up to read clean wind... and not eddying off of their chimmineys.  

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=stinson+beach%2Cca#PWS

I surf a lot too so Im always looking for real time wind gauges on the coast...postem' if you know any.

There is also another one I forgot to mention at the Bodega Bay Marine lab.....don't have the link at the moment but you can search it.

jeff

Title: Wind data sources
Post by: KZ on December 15, 2004, 04:41:00 PM

I subscribe to

http://www.iwindsurf.com

I got fed up with the NWS marine forecasts being inaccurate.  

Iwindsurf.com seems to be the most accurate wind forecasting I've been able to find yet.  They update their forecasts a few times per day.

I figure for the nominal subscription fee, if it saves me one or two trips to the Bay or out to the coast, it's pretty much paid for itself.

Erik

Title: Wind data sources
Post by: ChuckE on December 15, 2004, 05:43:04 PM

My personal favorite source for local wind info is....

http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/wind/windbin.cgi

I think it's similar to iwindsurf.com without the fees.  Click on any area of the map to get detailed wind speed and direction.

-Chuck

Title: Wind data sources
Post by: jeffw on December 16, 2004, 08:15:14 AM

Yes..noaa is wrong frequently....especially around the bay which has some pretty complicated weather dynamics. Their buoys are also to far out at sea to get good accurate coastal wind data also. They're really only good for swell assessment..speaking of which there is a honker west swell peaking friday...mavericks should be putting on quite a show as this is the first big swell with good wind conditions this year.

Title: Wind data sources
Post by: mooch on December 16, 2004, 08:41:32 AM

Jeff - let me know when Mavericks is going off - I would like to paddle out there and see the big waves up close (at a safe distance of course)

Bill.....I NEED MY EMOTIOCONS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Wind data sources
Post by: jeffw on December 16, 2004, 09:04:34 AM

if the winds are east tomorrow, which they should be, it should be a circus out there. its probably easier to walk up to the bluffs to watch- just head toward the radar dish. get there earlier though. after about 12 the sun glares off of the water right where the wave is. you\'ll have to park in town probably too. its not a bad idea to bring a bike.