We are clearly transitioning into fall as evidenced by the leaves on the trees turning and the evening temps getting decidedly cooler. While it is the last weekend in September we still have two more months of hurricane season and Hurricane Rosa is now a Cat 4 storm aiming to come ashore in the northern part of Baja late Monday or early Tuesday. It won’t be a Cat 4 or even a hurricane when it does arrive however it will bring some wind and plenty of rain.
Then we also have Tropical Storm Kirk in the Atlantic headed into the Caribbean with plenty of time for more systems to form off of Africa with conditions being very favorable. So we shall see.
For the Pacific Northwest the surface chart for Saturday is very interesting with NINE low-pressure systems (counting Rosa) dominating the weather from Mexico to Alaska and out to the mid-Pacific. There is also that one 1039MB High in BC which is fairly strong and will be sending light NE breezes into the Strait of Georgia, Strait of JdF, and northern Puget Sound on Saturday. The rest of the Sound will be light and variable as a weak frontal system makes it way onshore late Saturday or early Sunday. This will bring pre-frontal conditions (ESE wind 5-12knots) to the eastern Strait of JdF and light conditions over the rest of Sound.
Next weekend we’ll have a more definitive forecast for the Foulweather Bluff Race out of Edmonds which, as always, will be a great event.
Enjoy this weekend and spend some time out on the water.
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)