Re: [Paddlewise] Weather

Great post.
I have only a few additions for thos venturing out of the 'normal'
areas.

735769_at_ican.net wrote:
> 
> Possibly the reason for people not being interested in weather instruction
> has to do with its complexity and the tendency of instructors to use
> unfamiliar terms and concepts. It may not be weather that is boring but
> instructors that are boring.

I find most instructors boring, in all fields, finding a good instructor
is like finding burried gold.

> Here is something from my web page on the topic that some might find
> useful.

> Present weather will turn worse if:
> 
> Cumulus clouds grow larger and towering
> Stratus clouds move in under cirrus clouds
> The barometer falls steadily. A rapid fall of 0.06 inches per hour or more
> indicates a rapid worsening and slow fall 0.50 or less a slow worsening

In polar regions the barometer is largely useless except as a bit of 
interesting data to record. 
I am not sure about the north (haven't sailed there yet) but below about
55 degrees south, the barometer either has no connection to what the
weather is doing, or tells you about the low after you are getting your
a** kicked.
At 70 deg S. the barometer is about as usefull as a brick on deck.
The brick will tell you if it is raining, snowing, freezing ice and
a few other interesting things just by checking the type of coating
on the brick.
If you place the barometer on deck it will tell you the same thing. :-))

> Sun becomes fuzzy looking and moon haloed or fuzzy
> Clouds thicken and wind increases
> Temperature unusually high or low for time of year
> Wind backing (shifting counterclockwise I.e. from SW to S to E)

In the Northern Hemisphere. In the South it is still called backing
but the directions are opposite.
Think of backing as the approach of a low with counterclockwise winds
in the NH and clockwise winds in the SH.

> Line of heavy dark clouds from the west

True for people in the areas of the earth with westerlies.
If you are in the tradewinds worry more about heavy dark clouds
in the east.

> No one sign constitutes an absolute indication of bad weather but two or
> more will. If you  always error on the safe side, your paddling will be
> safe and fun.

Very true, always use information from as many different sources and types
as you can.
It is not necessary to be obsessive just observant.

> I learned these weather signs (in a more folksy way) from the watermen of
> the Chesapeake Bay long before the days of satellites and weather radio.

And these signs are excellent for the Chesapeake. 
My point is only to help extend them to people in other areas.

> I suppose I lack tolerance for paddlers who seek the quick fix or want some

Hey!
I like the quick fix!
All it takes it a lifetime of living at sea, quick enough for me.

> to this day all the whales and icebergs in the world can't hold candle to
> the power and beauty of a storm at sea.

I find then all to be parts of the whole, wonderfull, big picture of life.

Give me a ship (big or small) and water to float her and I am a happy man.

michael

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************