Sailing weather

[Dan McCosh]

On Lake Superior today:

This Afternoon: North northwest wind between 18 and 23 knots, with gusts as high as 28 knots. Periods of snow showers. Waves 18 to 23 feet.

[Milo Christensen]

Is that Gordon Lightfoot you've got playing in the background?

[TimH]

Sounds like good sailing weather as long as its below freezing.

somebody out there kiteboarding:

http://www.allete.com/lakecam/

[TimH]

7 degrees in Deluth...


Geez...
A Granite Island record breaking wind speed was recorded on January 18, 2003 of 143 MPH. Subsequent testing of the wind guage showed it was working properly.

[Dan McCosh]

Is that Gordon Lightfoot you've got playing in the background?


When the Fitz went down, the wind velocity was in excess of 50 knots. It's an interesting time of the to look at the Lakes weather bouy info. The Carl D. Bradley broke up in a 65-knot blow in Lake Michigan.

[TimH]

I almost went to Michigan Tech up in Houghton.

What waas I thinking? its freakin cold up there.

[TimH]

Got some wind in Grand Haven too.

http://www.lakemichigancam.com/

[Dan McCosh]

The great November storm of 1913 saw about 35 commercial vessels sunk or grounded, most in Lake Huron. The Fitzgerald sinking was notable as it was a relatively new, modern freighter with modern navigation and weather equipment.

[Dan McCosh]

Just noticed the wind is actually calming down. It was a steady 54 knots, with gusts to 68 knots this morning.

[TimH]

Great Lakes Shipwrecks and survivals is a good book by William Ratigan.

The worst thing about the great lakes storms is the bloody cold.

[Dan McCosh]

Great Lakes Shipwrecks and survivals is a good book by William Ratigan.

The worst thing about the great lakes storms is the bloody cold.


i once met Frank Mays, one of two survivors of the Bradley, who was rescued after 36 hours on a raft in sub-freezing temperatures. One interesting tidbit--no one has ever managed to launch a conventional lifeboat in one of these Lakes storms.

[TimH]

lots of weather variation. Pretty much calm in Marquette:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/graph04.gif (http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?station=mcgm4&meas=wdir&uom=E)Wind Direction (WDIR):NW ( 310 deg true )
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/graph04.gif (http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?station=mcgm4&meas=wspd&uom=E)Wind Speed (WSPD):6.0 kts
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/graph04.gif (http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?station=mcgm4&meas=wgst&uom=E)Wind Gust (GST):13.0 kts
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/graph04.gif (http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?station=mcgm4&meas=pres&uom=E)Atmospheric Pressure (PRES):30.26 in
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/graph04.gif (http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?station=mcgm4&meas=atmp&uom=E)Air Temperature (ATMP):16.3 °F
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/graph04.gif (http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/show_plot.php?station=mcgm4&meas=chil&uom=E)Wind Chill (CHILL):6.6 °F

[John B]

Dramatic stuff Dan. I was recently trying to explain to my kids about the great lakes and the rough seas that can be had there. I got all these blank looks.. not sure I got through.
" but its a lake"

[TimH]

People who have never seen the lakes usually take one look and as "How come I cant see the other side?"

It was funny during the Jack Johnson and Jimmy Buffett show in Chicago Jack refered to Lake Michigan as the ocean.

[Russ Manheimer]

Still fine on Barnegat Bay; about 50 Sunday with an 8 knot SSW breeze. More importantly, enough water. Cool enough for a fire below.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2063498514_377a5a964b.jpg
Ready to go; first sail of November.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/2063497290_4831348201.jpg
Ahhhh...muffin at the sizzle

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2062706709_55dab45c0b.jpg
Brother's Flatfish sadly underused

[Dan McCosh]

Still fine on Barnegat Bay; about 50 Sunday with an 8 knot SSW breeze. More importantly, enough water. Cool enough for a fire below.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2063498514_377a5a964b.jpg
Ready to go; first sail of November.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/2063497290_4831348201.jpg
Ahhhh...muffin at the sizzle

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2062706709_55dab45c0b.jpg
Brother's Flatfish sadly underused


I'm sitting at the edge of Barnegat Bay right now. I was looking up the weather back home when i started this thread.

[Russ Manheimer]

Where are watching from Dan?

[Bruce Hooke]

Dramatic stuff Dan. I was recently trying to explain to my kids about the great lakes and the rough seas that can be had there. I got all these blank looks.. not sure I got through.
" but its a lake"

Explain to them that Lake Superior (the largest of the Great Lakes) is about 2/3 the size of the North Island of New Zealand...

[Ron Williamson]

Or that all the Lakes together are the size of the UK.
Georgian Bay, to the east of me is about 160km x 80km
It's pretty breezy right now.
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/marine/marine_e.html?45149
R

[TimH]

Lake Superior contains 10% of the entire worlds fresh water. Probably a larger percentage than that as people use up all their water.

[Dan McCosh]

Where are watching from Dan?


I'm in the cove off of the mouth of Toms River.