• 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.

Invest 91L --> TD 2 --> Tropical Storm Bertha

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,581
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Looks like it will be a wet period for the Panhandle.
 
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Jun 21, 2004
3,129
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Keeping an eye on it; hopefully we can get a bit of rain to to moderate these high temps.
 
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JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
8,032
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
This is what helps us WEST of Florida Sailors.

Screenshot 2026-07-18 at 11.14.04 AM.png


Sahara Dust...

Jim...
 

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
8,032
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
More information from NHC.

Screenshot 2026-07-18 at 1.44.30 PM.png


now 40% chance.

Per Tropical Tidbits

Screenshot 2026-07-18 at 1.24.00 PM.png


Dammit Jim...
 

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
8,032
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
The Storm is turning NorthWestwards.

Hurricane Hunters AFB near me are getting real data now.

recon_AF301-0102A-CYCLONE.png


Data buoys nearby too.

Dammit Jim...
 
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JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
8,032
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Slowly moving Westward.

A High Pressure Ridge North of the Gulf will determine...

1 ) RAIN event or
2 ) TS Bertha hitting Texas

Dammit Jim...
 
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JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
8,032
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Monday Morning update...

Hurricane Hunters found the weak center.

recon_AF306-0302A-CYCLONE.png



1007 mbars

Buoy 42039 show this data now.

plot-3.png


camera on buoy

Z80A_2026_07_20_1110.jpg


Models still DO NOT agree.

Dammit Jim...
 
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JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
8,032
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
Tropical Storm Bertha

recon_AF309-0702A-BERTHA.png


Buoy 42039 has pressure rising.

plot-4.png


12 foot wave height :yikes:

Z80A_2026_07_21_1310.jpg


More to come soon

DAMMIT JIM
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,581
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Looks to be dancing along the coast, the Storm being tilted by upper-level winds. The hurricane path is at sea level. The center of the storm at Flight Level 300 is about 120nm south of the surface center.
1784658024580.png
 
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jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,581
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Frogs playing in spa water can be boiled into frog soup without a croak, if you raise the temperature gradually.
 
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