I enjoy learning about the weather we experience in the Pacific Northwest. As a geologist, I appreciate the dynamic nature of weather systems. As a sailor, my interest becomes much more immediate when I’m on the water.
Favorite resources
I follow two blogs about weather: one by Cliff Mass, and the other by the University of Washington. Combined with the Pacific Surface Analysis map, I gain a larger view of weather patterns here, soon to be here, and around us.
Sure, I visit other sites, and watch the local news, but those three resources are my “go to” places for additional depth and background about our weather.
Even better, there’s a book
The Weather of the Pacific Northwest by weather wizard Cliff Mass is a useful and interesting book that will help you gain a much better understanding of our weather. Well illustrated and written in such a way to appeal to those of us who are not meteorologists, this book is a great addition to your sailing library.
You can also find some discussion about Puget Sound weather patterns in the Puget Sound Area Heavy Weather Port Guide published by the Naval Research Laboratory. For example, the following information is useful if you are planning a sailing trip on Puget Sound:
The second wind regime occurs in late spring, summer, and early autumn when vigorous transient extratropical low pressure systems are uncommon. The prevailing direction in central and southern Puget Sound is still south to southwesterly, but velocities are reduced to an average of seven to eight kt. The prevailing wind at Whidbey Island, at the east end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is westerly five to seven kt. Nighttime and early morning winds throughout the Puget Sound region are mostly light and variable.
Storm damage
Search Google for a wealth of information and reports about damage caused by storms in the Pacific Northwest. The book by meteorologist Mass helps explain how some of these storms delivered such damage at ground level.
Are you interested in our weather? What is it about weather that fascinates you?
Discussion
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