I believe this was taken by a friend of mine in Jamaica. He is the British Ambassador there. Very nice example of the edge of Hurricane Isaac and two pressure systems meeting. Tons of rain on the right side of the image.
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Sailing is all about the Weather.
Big into the exploration of Atlantic Hurricanes since Katrina came uninvited into his world, James (Jim) Gurley (JamesG161) has followed every Tropical Storm birthed in Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean waters since. Being a boater, he knows that we often need more time to prepare than we get from the TV weather folk. Jim relies on the science of storm development to share early warning info with friends and fellow boaters.
Early in 2018, Jim and John Shepard, (JSSailem) started to chat about the weather data available. John asked Jim to help forecast Pacific NW storms, and this morphed into discussions on weather forecasting.For John, sailing in the PNW is sometimes hit and miss. One day is ugly, then a string of beautiful days but no wind, followed by a series of blue-sky days and 12 knot breezes. Being ready for those great sailing days means you need to look to the Pacific Ocean and what is brewing. John has been into Pacific NW Weather since the 1970’s when his first PNW November storm hit bringing more than 40 days and 40 nights of continual rain.
Together we want to share information, new APPs, safety, and thoughts about letting the weather help you. Identify some of the resources for sailors and help prepare you for your next sailboat outing.It is far better to go out on the water knowing what to expect in weather terms, than to be out on the water and see dark ominous clouds suddenly appear, unprepared.
Image of Isaac
- Thread starter Brian D
- Start date
If you have to sail through it, don't take your sails down completely if you have the reefing points. Otherwise, you are completely at the mercy of wind and waves. A good internal auxiliary motor is a big plus here. Above all, keep headway. Oh yeah, brown pants are good too.
Yes you are
-Will (Dragonfly)
This was an unpredicted storm we were caught in 15 miles out in Lake Huron in August
The size of those type storm fronts will fool you as to distance and estimated time of arrival.
It may look 40 minutes away and may be only 10.
If you see heavy rainfall "streaks", there is normally a high cool wind preceding the visible front.
I wonder how many are prepared to quickly handle our boats and crew when at sail?
Jim...
It may look 40 minutes away and may be only 10.
If you see heavy rainfall "streaks", there is normally a high cool wind preceding the visible front.
I wonder how many are prepared to quickly handle our boats and crew when at sail?
Jim...
I'm no expert, but I doubt that first picture is a hurricane. The outer bands of a hurricane reach out pretty far so things get cloudy way before and you never really see a distinctive cloud separation like that.. Also, the 'roundness' of the storm in that picture suggests a storm much smaller in size.
Isaac was never a hurricane.
The path of Isaac was way south of Jamaica, but the storm front was wide and most of the rain bands were on the North Jamaican side.
That Picture was most likely part of TS Isaac.
Jim...
We can conclude that indeed this is a very nasty squall line. My friend indicated it is the tail end of Isaac. He is in Kingston. Regardless of it's status as TS or Hurricane in not important. The wind speed is still destructive and the amount of rain fall would be devastating. And if one is sailing, one would have to take serious evasive action.
From a sailing couple with 35 years in charter:
"You mostly like can't avoid a squall, if in open waters."
They told me in their time in the Caribbean and surrounding areas, they had only ONE storm that was a surprise. It lasted 3 days on open waters.
The couple was prepared to handle it.
Are you?
Jim...
PS: My boat and crew are prepared. We have been caught in 3 squalls. Each time was a leaning experience.
This is round two of the same day, this one was better to look at from the dock as opposed to sailing through it.
