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Old 05-08-2022, 11:00 AM   #10
C lectric
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City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,414
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpbrady View Post
One caution about Windy in SE Alaska. Its models don’t seem to factor in the terrain’s affect on winds. For example any wind with a southerly component will blow directly up Clarence or Chatham Straits. For the same reason the velocity is sometimes understated. NOAA’s forecast of 10kts/2ft backed up by Windy is a go. A forecast of 15/3 is a look see and a forecast of 20/4 is a stay put unless the prediction is 10/2 later in the day and then a look see is in order.

The place I have been surprised the most is Peril St when southerly winds turn out of Chatham and blow up Peril making it a slog just to get to Appleton Cove and Appleton sees winds of 15 kts.

Tom

I think TOm nailed it. Narrow channels, Fjord like inlets can amplify the neighbouring winds and "channel" into much stronger and maybe concerning winds that the more open areas won't see. We see this in our inlets, Indian Arm, Howe Sound, and of course further up the coast.
Many times we have seen strong inlet winds where once out of the inlet there is only a mild breeze.

Up the coast/inlets those local winds will not be accounted for. At least not yet untill weather stations are installed.
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