• 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.

Cristobal Wind Info

Nov 6, 2006
9,884
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Mid Lake Pontchartrain web cams .. always interesting to see the waves and check out the wind speed as a storm goes by. Wind speed is not by standard measure. Because the sensor is pretty high over the water (around 70 feet, irrc) the speeds measured are a bit higher than "official" speed.
 
Jun 21, 2004
2,532
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Yes, it is a real time source that I often use also. Also interesting to see the variation in wind speed twenty something miles west of my location. Fairly quiet here this morning.
 
Oct 22, 2014
20,989
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
The Eye of Cristobal appears to be 75nm south of Port Sulphur. Wind speeds in the mid 30’s. Gusts in the 40’s.

Winds are forecast to intensify as the storm reaches land fall. Lots of rain along the Louisiana and Mississippi Coast.
 
May 25, 2012
4,333
john alden caravelle 42 sturgeon bay, wis
our cup runneth over up here. the plume of the remnants of such a system in the atmosphere is quite something to see.
 
Jun 21, 2004
2,532
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Just returned from marina at Oak Harbor, Slidell. Not bad, wind appx 20 with higher gusts. Water level up 3 feet so far.
 
Feb 14, 2014
7,399
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Jordan River outside bay St Louis
Now you see why we raise the houses along a river.;)

Hight tide just happened plus the Barometric Pressure is Falling steadily.

The Jourdan River flows into the Bay of St Louis and here is the NOAA station in the Bay now.
Station Home Page - NOAA Tides & Currents

Heading to our marina now which is along the Jourdan River but North of the Bay.
Jim...
 
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Feb 14, 2014
7,399
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Went to Marina and Tide was Way UP. Boat was doing fine.
IMG_1270.jpg
Fuel Dock not so good. That is Marsh grass in foreground, but marsh is underwater.

IMG_1276.jpg
Our boat has the blue in-mast furling canvas showing.
IMG_1284.jpeg

The Red arrow shows a Casino hotel that is on the Jourdan River. So the Bay of St. Louis and the Jourdan River are united now.
We had a break in wind and rain for that Picture.

Eye?.jpeg
You can see the so called Eye. @kloudie1 lives near Mandeville and @BigEasy near Slidell.

Jim...

PS: Power boxes were under water.
PSS: The little heart on the last picture is our location.
 
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Jun 21, 2004
2,532
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Went to Marina and Tide was Way UP.
Jim,
Hope you faired well with the tropical storm. You guys had a fairly significant surge (7.47’) for a relatively weak & fast moving storm. I estimated that we had about 4’ surge with the flow restrictions into Ponchartrain. You never know what you’re going to get until it’s on you. Nice having that NOAA weather station at your front door!
 
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Feb 14, 2014
7,399
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
This morning still has high tides but down about 2 feet.
You can see the tops of the marsh grass now.

HighTidesCristobal.jpg

After the power boxes went under water, we still had shore power on the boat.:wow3:
Still windy with rain.
Jim...

PS: Boat and lines held up well.
 
Jun 21, 2004
2,532
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
This morning still has high tides but down about 2 feet.
You can see the tops of the marsh grass
Looking good! Just a bit of mess to cleanup. Hopefully Cristobol is the only storm to deal with this season!