Just when we thought summer had arrived…..oh well, it is after all the Pacific Northwest. I’m not complaining, as I’ve said before, the longer we can keep things cooler with just a bit of moisture, the longer we can keep the wildfires at least somewhat at bay.
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Aug 9 500MB 
Aug 9 Surface Analysis 
Aug 10 Surface Forecast 
Aug 11 500MB 
Aug 11 Surface Forecast 
Aug 12 Surface Forecast 
Aug 13 Surface Forecast
This weekend’s weather picture shows that the Pacific High is still pretty much a no-show for this summer with more low-pressure systems lurking off the coast and upper charts continuing to show a persistent upper level low off our coast. Then there is also a large upper level cut-off low off of eastern Siberia that will continue to drive smoke from their wildfires into the upper atmosphere and brilliantly color our sunsets. This pattern will provide a weak onshore flow over the weekend with the possibility of light rain places, widely scattered places. There will also be a bit of a stronger southerly flow over the San Juan’s on Sunday morning so coming south might get a little lumpy. For tonight and tomorrow expect small craft advisories in the central and eastern Strait of Jdf with lighter wind everywhere else.
The Moore 24’s started racing today in a light NNE which always provides challenging conditions off of Shilshole. Tomorrow will bring lighter NNE in the morning with a nice N to NW breeze filling down the Sound in the early afternoon. To be safe, sail your best races on Saturday as wind may be tough to come by on Sunday.
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)