Cold weather in the Puget Sound

On Wednesday I left Gig Harbor to go to the Olympia Yacht Club as I had a couple days of meetings at the Capitol.

Leaving Wednesday morning I found the boat iced in. The head of the harbor had frozen over. It wasn't that thick so with a lot of time, patience, use of thrusters and prop to stir up the deeper salt water to meet the frozen brackish water, I finally got out of my slip, the boat turned around, and cut a channel out to open water. Then it was a beautiful clear day to Olympia.

Well, the forecast turned worse and they are predicting high winds and snow. So I left a little earlier than planned today to make sure I beat the storm. Now it is snowing. Not terribly common around here.

Current is going with the light breeze so the water is calm. Good thing as there have been a huge number of logs in the water from the recent high tides

Is that the Narrows Bridge?


That bottom picture reminds me of a time I got caught on the North side of the bridge closer to Gig Harbor and the fog rolled in. I was in a 27' Express Cruiser and had come over from Hartstene when the boat was new. First voyage that far away from the launch ramp. Fog rolled in so thick I could not see land anywhere. And land wasn't that far away. I freaked a little because all I could do was motor at idle and listen for things. I heard a lot and didn't see anything. Then all of a sudden the fog lifted and I took off towards home.

Yup that is the Narrows Bridge. Between the fog and snow, I can’t see land at the moment so I’m just looking at the iPad. ;-)

Radar is great although I’m not used to using it in snow. I’ve had to turn the gain way down. The wind is picking up so that will help with the fog, but now I’m dealing with blowing snow. Docking solo in windy conditions with a slippery dock will be fun.

Yikes!!
Safe passage my friend.

I shoveled, yes shoveled, IRENE this morning. I think she liked it.

We have received about 8-10 inches of snow since the shoveling.

Ugh.

Have over 2 inches of new here as well. Was just down scooping it off the boat. Weather guys says we may have snow off and on all next week! Rather unusual for February!

No such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

IRENE said:

I shoveled, yes shoveled, IRENE this morning. I think she liked it.

We have received about 8-10 inches of snow since the shoveling.

Ugh.

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Jeff, is it snowing hard now down your way? It moved through Bellingham this morning only leaving a trace. Tonight we get another edition of the winds from hell, temps in the teens and NE winds gusting 60.

Ken,

We have about 10 inches of snow in PA. I left the boat in Sequim at about 2”. The winds have been nonexistent to light so far.

I am wondering what will happen when the cold Fraser outflow blows across the relatively warm waters on its way to us...I expect a dumping.

Turns out my slip was still iced up. Not nearly as bad as when I left. Wednesday I had to go 100 yards from the marina before I hit clear water. Today It was only about 15 yards and not nearly as thick. It did make solo docking pretty easy. Turns out that when you drive the boat into ice, it stays there. Stick it in the slip next to the dock, and I could have just walked away. The boat wasn’t going anywhere.

PA area may get upwards of a foot or more overnight according to Q13.