Here are some weather links that will help you
when you are planning a sailing trip or racing!
WEATHER
RESOURCES
[Left click on pictures above to see them full size]
NOAA
- WESTERN REGION -
current weather and forecasts for the Western
part of the United States. You can also go to any other part of
the U. S., as well. A very good resource that you will probably
want to bookmark in your computer if you do much sailing.
WEATHER
FORECASTING CLOUD CHART
- here is a detailed chart showing cloud
formations that you can use to forecast the weather.
CHART SHOWING HOW TO USE A BAROMETER
The chart below was obtained from SAIL MAGAZINE (August, 2007 issue) which referred me to the Sail Magazine web site to download this chart as a .PDF file. I think it is a very good reference chart to have on your boat if you also have a Barometer. I downloaded the .PDF file and scanned the printed chart so I could put it here as well. I am not sure that the Sail Magazine web site will always give you the ability to get this .PDF file there so you can download it here by clicking on the yellow button below.
THE BEAUFORT SCALE
| SCALE NUMBER | DESCRIPTION | WIND SPEED | SEA CONDITIONS | LAND CONDITIONS | |
| KNOTS |
MPH |
||||
| 1 | Light air | 1-3 | 1-3 | Ripples without crests | Wind motion visible in smoke |
| 2 | Light breeze | 4-6 | 4-7 | Small wavelets | Wind felt on exposed skin |
| 3 | Gentle breeze | 7-10 | 8-12 | Large wavelets | Leaves in constant motion |
| 4 | Moderate breeze | 11-16 | 13-18 | Small waves | Dust raised, small branches wave |
| 5 | Fresh breeze | 17-21 | 19-24 | Moderate waves, some spray | Small trees sway |
| 6 | Strong breeze | 22-27 | 25-31 | Large waves with foam | Large branches in motion |
| 7 | Near gale | 28-33 | 32-38 | Sea heaps up, foam | Whole trees in motion |
| 8 | Gale | 34-40 | 39-46 | High waves with breaking crests, streaks of foam | Twigs broken from trees |
| 9 | Strong Gale | 41-47 | 47-54 | High waves with dense foam, crests roll over | Light structure damage |
| 10 | Storm | 48-55 | 55-63 | Very high waves, sea surface white, visibility reduced | Trees uprooted, structural damage |
| 11 | Violent storm | 55-63 | 64-72 | Exceptionally high waves | Widespread structural damage |
| 12 | Hurricane | 64+ | 73+ | Huge waves; air filled with foam and spray, sea white | Massive and widespread damage |
The scale above has been in use for more than 200 years and is also called the "Beaufort Wind Force Scale". Sir Francis Beaufort was an Admiral in the Royal Navy and a hydrographer. He developed this scale in 1806 and it was later changed repeatedly and adapted over the course of the 19th century. The scale was standardized in 1923. The scale lists different strengths of wind and ranks them from 1 to 12. In modern meteorology, hurricanes are identified now as an extension of the Beaufort Scale starting at Force 12 and going to Force 16. In the United States, gale warnings are announced at Beaufort 8 or 9, storm warnings follow at Beaufort 10 or 11 and everything stronger is a Hurricane.
CLICK HERE for wave action pictures giving their relationship to the Beaufort Scale