Hi all: So anyone know a website that shows the average weather conditions for particular times of the year? We are thinking of planning a sail around Vancouver Island in the middle part of May, and are curious about the expected conditions (we figured winds would be more predictable than later in summer, but don't want 18 inches of rain either). Thanks! Kimmo
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Kimmo, generally speaking the months ...
of summer will be a better time to circumnavigate Vancouver Island. I'm not aware of a website that addresses your concerns. I've been up and down the inside of the island a number of times but never the outside. Mr. Jeff Renner wrote a very good book on PNW weather. If you do not have his book I highly recommend that you purchase a copy and study it. I compiled some highlights from his book that follows: Pacific Northwest Weather Tips · If you stand with your back to the wind, low pressure will be to your left. · In the PNW, steering currents move surface weather systems from W to E. · If the low is generally to the W of your position, it is likely moving toward you. · Surface winds from the N or NW, fair weather likely. · Surface winds switching to E or SE, a weather disturbance is approaching. · Expect winds to change to SW or W with the passage of a front. · Surface winds switching from E or SE to W, expect brief clearing, but be prepared for the possibility of showers or thundershowers. · Pressure change over a three hour period: o .6 - 1.2mb. No action. Monitor sky, wind directions and speed. o 1.2 - 1.8mb. Watch sky carefully for thickening, lowering clouds. Is the wind increasing, shifting to E or SE? o 1.8 - 2.4mb. Same as above. Consider finding safe harbor due to possibility of high winds. o 2.4 - 5.9mb. Seek safe harbor immediately. Gale force winds likely. o 6.0 - >6.0mb. Storm force winds likely. Seek safe harbor immediately. · When cold air sinks, air pressure increases, and decreases when warm air rises. · Air generally moves from an area of high pressure to one of low pressure. · When air cannot hold any additional water vapor, it is saturated, or dew point. · The dew point is always equal to or cooler than the air temperature. · As air cools, its capacity to hold water vapor is reduced. That which spills out condenses into a cloud of water droplets. · Clues to a warm front: o Look for approaching clouds from the SW, W or NW. o Look for flat, sheet like stratus clouds. o Look for thickening, lowering clouds. o Look for surface winds from E to SE. o Look for a gradual decrease in air pressure. o Look for an increase in air temperature after warm front passes. · Clues to cold front: o Look for clouds to thicken, lower, merge and darken. o Look for winds to increase, usually E or SE. o Look for drop in pressure, usually rapid, then rises after cold front passes. · Radiation fog: o Moist ground from rain/melting snow, warm water. o Clearing that allows overnight cooling, late autumn early spring. o Light winds. · Advection fog: o Hot weather east of the Cascades. o Cooling temperatures and fog moving northward along coast. o Air pressure at least 2mb higher at Astoria. o Strong westerly winds. o Wind shift N or NE to S or SE. · Warm frontal fog: o Lower thickening stratus clouds. o Light E or SE winds. o Steady precipitation. o Small shredded or torn clouds close to the ground. · Sea fog: o N or NW coast winds. o Two to three days of wind minimum. o Velocities less than 25 knots. o July through October. · Steam fog: o Clearing overnight. o Light winds. o Air temperature cools to below surface water temperature. o Autumn and early winter months. · A wind shift from N or NE to SE signals an approaching low. · A shift from SE to SW signals the passing of a low. · A shift from SW to N usually indicates a building high pressure system. · Weather plan two days before trip: o Check overall weather pattern. o Check projected weather next two days. · One day before trip: o Check current weather to evaluate accuracy of previous day’s forecast. o Check overall weather pattern. o Check projected weather for next two days. o If high winds, thunderstorms possible, check updates every six to eight hours. · Day of trip: o Check current weather to evaluate previous day’s forecast. o Check projected weather for trip. o Make go/no go decision based upon current forecast, the track record of earlier forecasts, your personal experience, experience and comfort level of your crew, and the capabilities of your vessel.
of summer will be a better time to circumnavigate Vancouver Island. I'm not aware of a website that addresses your concerns. I've been up and down the inside of the island a number of times but never the outside. Mr. Jeff Renner wrote a very good book on PNW weather. If you do not have his book I highly recommend that you purchase a copy and study it. I compiled some highlights from his book that follows: Pacific Northwest Weather Tips · If you stand with your back to the wind, low pressure will be to your left. · In the PNW, steering currents move surface weather systems from W to E. · If the low is generally to the W of your position, it is likely moving toward you. · Surface winds from the N or NW, fair weather likely. · Surface winds switching to E or SE, a weather disturbance is approaching. · Expect winds to change to SW or W with the passage of a front. · Surface winds switching from E or SE to W, expect brief clearing, but be prepared for the possibility of showers or thundershowers. · Pressure change over a three hour period: o .6 - 1.2mb. No action. Monitor sky, wind directions and speed. o 1.2 - 1.8mb. Watch sky carefully for thickening, lowering clouds. Is the wind increasing, shifting to E or SE? o 1.8 - 2.4mb. Same as above. Consider finding safe harbor due to possibility of high winds. o 2.4 - 5.9mb. Seek safe harbor immediately. Gale force winds likely. o 6.0 - >6.0mb. Storm force winds likely. Seek safe harbor immediately. · When cold air sinks, air pressure increases, and decreases when warm air rises. · Air generally moves from an area of high pressure to one of low pressure. · When air cannot hold any additional water vapor, it is saturated, or dew point. · The dew point is always equal to or cooler than the air temperature. · As air cools, its capacity to hold water vapor is reduced. That which spills out condenses into a cloud of water droplets. · Clues to a warm front: o Look for approaching clouds from the SW, W or NW. o Look for flat, sheet like stratus clouds. o Look for thickening, lowering clouds. o Look for surface winds from E to SE. o Look for a gradual decrease in air pressure. o Look for an increase in air temperature after warm front passes. · Clues to cold front: o Look for clouds to thicken, lower, merge and darken. o Look for winds to increase, usually E or SE. o Look for drop in pressure, usually rapid, then rises after cold front passes. · Radiation fog: o Moist ground from rain/melting snow, warm water. o Clearing that allows overnight cooling, late autumn early spring. o Light winds. · Advection fog: o Hot weather east of the Cascades. o Cooling temperatures and fog moving northward along coast. o Air pressure at least 2mb higher at Astoria. o Strong westerly winds. o Wind shift N or NE to S or SE. · Warm frontal fog: o Lower thickening stratus clouds. o Light E or SE winds. o Steady precipitation. o Small shredded or torn clouds close to the ground. · Sea fog: o N or NW coast winds. o Two to three days of wind minimum. o Velocities less than 25 knots. o July through October. · Steam fog: o Clearing overnight. o Light winds. o Air temperature cools to below surface water temperature. o Autumn and early winter months. · A wind shift from N or NE to SE signals an approaching low. · A shift from SE to SW signals the passing of a low. · A shift from SW to N usually indicates a building high pressure system. · Weather plan two days before trip: o Check overall weather pattern. o Check projected weather next two days. · One day before trip: o Check current weather to evaluate accuracy of previous day’s forecast. o Check overall weather pattern. o Check projected weather for next two days. o If high winds, thunderstorms possible, check updates every six to eight hours. · Day of trip: o Check current weather to evaluate previous day’s forecast. o Check projected weather for trip. o Make go/no go decision based upon current forecast, the track record of earlier forecasts, your personal experience, experience and comfort level of your crew, and the capabilities of your vessel.
Select a site
This site will give you all the monthly wether for listed Canadian sites. Finding sites near your area of intreast will take a little work.
This site will give you all the monthly wether for listed Canadian sites. Finding sites near your area of intreast will take a little work.
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Sites listed are for Ontario. Click another site for listings for British Columbia.
Sites listed are for Ontario. Click another site for listings for British Columbia.
Vancouver Island Circumnavigation
Kimmo, Sailing around Vancouver Island is a very serious trip on a lee shore at any time of the year. I have done it twice in July-Aug the most benign months. You had better have time as you could be weathered in for days or weeks. Rain is almost a given. Gary Wyngarden of the San Juans is a regular visitor to this site and went around last summer. A telephone call/email to him would be time and money well spent. Peter
Kimmo, Sailing around Vancouver Island is a very serious trip on a lee shore at any time of the year. I have done it twice in July-Aug the most benign months. You had better have time as you could be weathered in for days or weeks. Rain is almost a given. Gary Wyngarden of the San Juans is a regular visitor to this site and went around last summer. A telephone call/email to him would be time and money well spent. Peter
Vancouver Island circumnavigation
Hello Kimmo - I highly recommend this trip, but also agree with Peter that it's best to have a lot of time in order to be able to weather storms in tucked away anchorages and also to be able to explore the myriad of anchorages on the west coast. I took 9 weeks on both trips (in 1995, Islander 28 and 2001, Catalina 36). I left Seattle in late May and was back down the Strait of Juan de Fuca by the beginning of August. I try to get back inside before "Foggust", as fog is prevalent in late summer out there. Prepare well and have a great trip! Trevor
Hello Kimmo - I highly recommend this trip, but also agree with Peter that it's best to have a lot of time in order to be able to weather storms in tucked away anchorages and also to be able to explore the myriad of anchorages on the west coast. I took 9 weeks on both trips (in 1995, Islander 28 and 2001, Catalina 36). I left Seattle in late May and was back down the Strait of Juan de Fuca by the beginning of August. I try to get back inside before "Foggust", as fog is prevalent in late summer out there. Prepare well and have a great trip! Trevor
West Coast
We left the end of April to do our Vancouver Island circumnavigation and allowed ourselves 7 weeks. We also did it counter clockwise which took better advantage of the winds sailing that time of year. You can day sail between any one of the Sounds - the longest leg is out Juan De Fuca Strait to Bamfield - and once inside any of the Sounds you are in protected water. There is reliable weather reports available throughout the majority of the West Coast. So just take your time and plan your weather windows when you transit from one Sound to another. You won't have to worry about the crowds but the other side of that is make sure you are self sufficient and well stocked on both spare parts and provisions as supplies are few and far between when you get North of Tofino. Have a great time - it is still one of my favorite all time cruises. Make sure you see the Bunsby Islands and take some time in the Broken Group of Islands.
We left the end of April to do our Vancouver Island circumnavigation and allowed ourselves 7 weeks. We also did it counter clockwise which took better advantage of the winds sailing that time of year. You can day sail between any one of the Sounds - the longest leg is out Juan De Fuca Strait to Bamfield - and once inside any of the Sounds you are in protected water. There is reliable weather reports available throughout the majority of the West Coast. So just take your time and plan your weather windows when you transit from one Sound to another. You won't have to worry about the crowds but the other side of that is make sure you are self sufficient and well stocked on both spare parts and provisions as supplies are few and far between when you get North of Tofino. Have a great time - it is still one of my favorite all time cruises. Make sure you see the Bunsby Islands and take some time in the Broken Group of Islands.
Van Isle weather
I have paddled a kayak around the island over 5 stages in as many years, taking about 42 paddling days. I also plan to take my O'Day 37 center cockpit around this summer, too quickly I might add as I only have three weeks. But I will work my boat up the inside over weekends. Anyway, summer weather over most of the route is NW winds when in a high and SE when in a low. The storms are generally SE and can be strong in the Strait of Georgia, but infrequent and well forecast. You can get strong NWesterlies on the outside. Counter clockwise route will give you best chance of picking up fair NW winds on the outside during fine weather. My buddy and I took that route in the kayak (a double) and we got many good hours of sailing with the small rig. Nothing quite like clocking 7 kn on the GPS in a kayak under sail!! May is perhaps a bit early as it can be rainy and cool. June has finer weather with little fog. The finest weather will be during July and August, but with increasing fog. I would say June and July probably the best compromise. June should have little fog but weather can still be rainy and cool. July should be warm but with increasing fog. August is likely to catch some extensive fog. September is also a good month, with decreasing fog and still a chance of nicer weather. The entire coast is well covered by VHF repeaters with good weather reporting. There should be no reason to get caught out by high winds. There are a few 25 nm stretches without shelter, but generally sufficient hidy-holes so that you can check weather and decide if you can make the next stage safely. We did that in the kayak. Our average crusing speed was around 3.7 kn paddling without head wind, so we had to plan the long runs carefully. Mind you, that average speed is not much different from a sail boat under sail. It is a spectacular trip. Highlights are Cape Scott (anchor in the bay immediately to the South), Brooks Peninsula (totally wild, anchor off beach in stable weather to explore but not overnight, you must get around the peninsula in one go). The beaches on the south Brooks are a dream. There are good anchorages at the "base" of the south Brooks and you can land on the south Brooks beaches with an outboard powered inflatable. The Bunsby Islands, just south of the Brooks, are a treat. Cape Scott to Bunsby is Sea Otter territory, take the dingy and slowly explore the kelp beds to catch the little buggers. There is a large colony right off Cape Scott. Don't miss Hot Springs Cove, Tofino, Long Beach, Uculet and especially the Broken Islands. Spend a night in Bamfield taking in the local color before making the sprint through Juan de Fuca Straight. Make sure you poke into Beacher Bay, Sooke Harbour (at high tide), Peder Bay and then spend an evening in Victoria Harbour and take high tea at the Empress Hotel right in the harbour to celebrate completing the outside. My kayaking buddy and I had tea and scones served to us on the dock at the foot of the Empress as we landed in the kayak to finish our circumnavigation. A properly goofy ending.
I have paddled a kayak around the island over 5 stages in as many years, taking about 42 paddling days. I also plan to take my O'Day 37 center cockpit around this summer, too quickly I might add as I only have three weeks. But I will work my boat up the inside over weekends. Anyway, summer weather over most of the route is NW winds when in a high and SE when in a low. The storms are generally SE and can be strong in the Strait of Georgia, but infrequent and well forecast. You can get strong NWesterlies on the outside. Counter clockwise route will give you best chance of picking up fair NW winds on the outside during fine weather. My buddy and I took that route in the kayak (a double) and we got many good hours of sailing with the small rig. Nothing quite like clocking 7 kn on the GPS in a kayak under sail!! May is perhaps a bit early as it can be rainy and cool. June has finer weather with little fog. The finest weather will be during July and August, but with increasing fog. I would say June and July probably the best compromise. June should have little fog but weather can still be rainy and cool. July should be warm but with increasing fog. August is likely to catch some extensive fog. September is also a good month, with decreasing fog and still a chance of nicer weather. The entire coast is well covered by VHF repeaters with good weather reporting. There should be no reason to get caught out by high winds. There are a few 25 nm stretches without shelter, but generally sufficient hidy-holes so that you can check weather and decide if you can make the next stage safely. We did that in the kayak. Our average crusing speed was around 3.7 kn paddling without head wind, so we had to plan the long runs carefully. Mind you, that average speed is not much different from a sail boat under sail. It is a spectacular trip. Highlights are Cape Scott (anchor in the bay immediately to the South), Brooks Peninsula (totally wild, anchor off beach in stable weather to explore but not overnight, you must get around the peninsula in one go). The beaches on the south Brooks are a dream. There are good anchorages at the "base" of the south Brooks and you can land on the south Brooks beaches with an outboard powered inflatable. The Bunsby Islands, just south of the Brooks, are a treat. Cape Scott to Bunsby is Sea Otter territory, take the dingy and slowly explore the kelp beds to catch the little buggers. There is a large colony right off Cape Scott. Don't miss Hot Springs Cove, Tofino, Long Beach, Uculet and especially the Broken Islands. Spend a night in Bamfield taking in the local color before making the sprint through Juan de Fuca Straight. Make sure you poke into Beacher Bay, Sooke Harbour (at high tide), Peder Bay and then spend an evening in Victoria Harbour and take high tea at the Empress Hotel right in the harbour to celebrate completing the outside. My kayaking buddy and I had tea and scones served to us on the dock at the foot of the Empress as we landed in the kayak to finish our circumnavigation. A properly goofy ending.
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