It’s going to be a great weekend to have a power boat……unfortunately we are right in a changeover point from our long cold, wet weather to a more reasonable late spring. The problem is still that pesky upper-level low-pressure system that, because of a meandering jet stream (see the 500MB Charts), isn’t going anywhere very quickly. As a result, there will be large gaps in the pressure gradient with a thermal northerly not filling in until late in the afternoon on both Friday and Saturday. Sunday there is a good chance of a more reasonable northerly starting at around 1000 to 1100 hrs and continuing most of the day. Perhaps 10-12 knots at the most.
If the J/24 Nationals Race Committee is willing to keep you out there until 1600-1700 hours Friday and Saturday, there could be a reasonable amount of breeze, 10-15 knots. If there is more clearing earlier in the day, it might fill down a bit earlier. Not holding my breath.
I wish I had better news for the sailors, however, if you’re a powerboater, it’s going to be pretty great just about everywhere except for Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon. In the Eastern end of the Straits from Sheringham to Smith Island, you could see 25-35 knots of westerly as it funnels down.
Enjoy what sun there might be and the fact that as the jet stream continues north, it will get warmer.
Have a great weekend.
Bruce has raced and cruised the Pacific Northwest his entire life. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Washington in Biological Oceanography and learned meteorology “to keep from getting kicked around on the race course.” Bruce spent nearly two decades as Associate Publisher for Northwest Yachting Magazine, retiring in mid-2015, and was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Northwest Marine Trade Association in 2014. (photo of Bruce driving Playstation is a bit dated, but cool)