Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 10 October 2009, 14:36   #1
Member
 
Country: Canada
Town: Tobermory, Canada eh
Boat name: Verius
Make: Zodiac Hurricane 590
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha F150
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,366
Send a message via MSN to Stoo
Why can't they even get "close" with weather forecasts?

Ya ya, I get that it's a bit complicated and all, but you would think that they might come close...

It's a long weekend here in the Great White North. Our summer is coming to a close. It has been miserable and raining for the past two weeks and I haven't had the boat off of the trailer in almost three weeks...

So on Thursday, "they" were predicting squalls for Friday, but ending at midnight, followed by three days of clear skies, very light winds and calm seas. As a result, we started to make plans for a trip to Killarney, to camp for a couple of days.

As of last night, the forcast was still great, although they were now calling for increasing winds by noon Monday... We continued to pack.

So this morning, I woke up to clear skies, and no wind at all. The lake was perfect. We just finished packing, the boat is loaded and fueled up. All that's left is a trip to the liquor store to refill the "first aid kit". And of course being the responsible boater I am, I flipped on the marine radio to get a last-minute forecast:

"For northern Georgian Bay, winds increasing to 20 knots by noon Saturday. Expect winds to 30 knots Saturday evening with rain and the possibility of thunder squalls. Small craft warning in effect, increasing to gale warning this evening...

"For Sunday, rain, heavy at times, winds 30, diminishing to 20 knots. Wave height 3 metres. Sunday afternoon, winds increasing to 30 knots, rain. Gale warning in effect.

"Monday, rain, strong winds, wave height 2 metres..." Ugh.

So I guess I'll go unpack the boat... Three metre waves in the Great Lakes are downright nasty. And with a crossing of at least 55 miles each way... not a lot of fun.

How is it that they can't predict weather for more than about 6 hours with any reliability?

Having said that, they might be totally wrong again. I could sit her Rib-netting and the weather will be great all weekend... and I'll be even more P*ssed...

Should I just go and suffer the consequences?

I want a do-over for the summer...

Rant over. Thanks, I feel better. Going diving now... close to home.
__________________
Pump it up and RIDE!

www.wetspotimages.com
Stoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 October 2009, 15:43   #2
Member
 
jambo's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Girvan & Tayvallich
Boat name: Breawatch
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Mercury 150 F/stroke
MMSI: ex directory!!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,203
RIBase
Hi Stoo sorry about your cancelled trip. The story is much the same over here the summer was non exsistant!! Far too much rain. There is something wrong with their ability to forecast is it that they are trying to soften the blow of more bad weather, I don't know I more prefer a correct attempt at the weather so we could plan a trip.
Hope you get a blast before winter comes. I brought mine up 2 weeks ago.
Cheers
Billy
__________________
jambo
'Carpe Diem'
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club
Member of SABS ( Scottish West Division)
jambo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 October 2009, 16:12   #3
RIBnet supporter
 
tonymac's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Town: Belfast
Boat name: Cait
Make: Humber
Length: 5m +
Engine: 90hp Opti
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 909
RIBase
Same here. Shitty weather all summer.

Boat out less this year than last.

Looking for a good weekend at end of October -------- pleeeese!!!!
__________________
-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**
Any meaning read into my message is the product of your own mind...
tonymac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 October 2009, 20:19   #4
Member
 
Country: Canada
Town: Tobermory, Canada eh
Boat name: Verius
Make: Zodiac Hurricane 590
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha F150
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,366
Send a message via MSN to Stoo
We just got back in from the lake and they did get THIS forecast right... As the old-timers in town say... "She's blowin' a gagger..."

We are fairly close (as weather patterns go) to the eastern end of Lake Superior. The updated forecast up there calls for 45 knot winds, rain or snow showers, 4 metre waves AND waterspouts... Tomorrow should be delightful...

Where's my grog...
__________________
Pump it up and RIDE!

www.wetspotimages.com
Stoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 October 2009, 17:48   #5
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Weymouth
Length: no boat
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 247
If you lied like that in any other profession you would be sacked

Just like
Accountants!
Solicitors!!
Politicians!!!
__________________
I went alongside the carrier, I survived and didnt even get shot at!!!
hobbit555 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 October 2009, 10:51   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Dartmouth
Boat name: Puffling
Make: Avon Rover 3.4m
Length: 5m +
Engine: Mercury 15hp
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 404
Send a message via MSN to badbaws
Learn how to use synoptic charts..

Learn how to use synoptic charts and satelitte imagery and create your own forecast... can blame anyone else then..
__________________
Advanced Power Boat Instructor
badbaws is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 October 2009, 15:38   #7
Member
 
chewy's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Up Norf
Make: Avon SR4,Tremlett 23
Length: 4m +
Engine: Yam 55, Volvo 200
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,217
Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbit555 View Post
If you lied like that in any other profession you would be sacked

Just like
Accountants!
Solicitors!!
Politicians!!!

Thought it was part of the job description for a politician to blatently lie?
__________________
chewy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 October 2009, 15:48   #8
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stoo View Post
It's a long weekend here in the Great White North.
Happy Thanksgiving, Stoo (and all other Canadian paticipants)

Sorry to hear about your meteorological disappointments.

Have a good holiday nonetheless.

But, yeah; know what you mean as far as weather "predictions" (they should just come out can call tham WAG's.)


jky
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 October 2009, 17:05   #9
Member
 
Country: Canada
Town: Tobermory, Canada eh
Boat name: Verius
Make: Zodiac Hurricane 590
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha F150
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,366
Send a message via MSN to Stoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by jyasaki View Post
Happy Thanksgiving, Stoo (and all other Canadian paticipants)
Thanks JYK... In spite of the weather last weekend... turkey, fixens and family made for an enjoyable enough time! The weather is great this weekend... and I am in the big city. B*ggered again!
__________________
Pump it up and RIDE!

www.wetspotimages.com
Stoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 October 2009, 18:10   #10
Member
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: swansea
Boat name: Too Blue
Make: BLANK
Length: 8m +
Engine: Suzuki DT225
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,791
A good few years ago I remember the Met Office seemed to always get the weather RIGHT - prob back in the late 90s and early 2000s. Now either the weather has gone nuts (but British weather has always been nuts) or they are too busy employing all sorts of politically correct people who have bugger all to do with weather forecasting.

Just looked at their timeline - it seems in 2003 they moved to new offices AND brought in a new computer - newest isn't always best!!!

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporat.../timeline.html
__________________
www.speedshift.co.uk
codprawn is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 02:42.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.