Sailors will find this weekend to be very interesting with plenty of wind in the central and eastern Strait of JdF (not unusual) and for once, more wind in the San Juan’s and the south Sound than in the central Sound. In other words, it’s the perfect weekend for the Shaw Island Winter Classic, the Harbor Series in Tacoma, and the Henderson Inlet Race. All three events appear to have a nice number of boats registered. So get out there and enjoy the breeze.
Today’s surface analysis chart shows the front that went through last night and early this morning, now on the other side of the Cascades. We also have a fairly strong area of high pressure(1037MB) off the coast with a weak area of low-pressure (1020MB) in the Gulf of Alaska that is moving rapidly towards the Queen Charlotte Straits and with its attached frontal system, will bring rain to our area this weekend. This set-up will bring strong onshore breeze to Straits and the South Sound with the central Sound, being in the lee of the Olympics, remaining light.
February 5 500 mb 
February 5 Surface Analysis 
February 6 Surface Forecast 
February 7 500 mb 
February 7 Surface Forecast 
February 9 500 mb 
February 9 Surface Forecast
As we go through the weekend the high will remain in place offshore with this quick-hitting low dissipating as it moves over land tomorrow. This will further reinforce the strong onshore flow with the potential for gale warnings in the central and eastern Strait of JdF. The other feature to be aware of is that 1042MB high in central BC. As that slides slowly to the south and east early next week, this could bring the coldest temperatures we’ve had this winter to the Salish Sea.
For the Shaw Island Winter Classic, while it will be cranking in the Straits, with Shaw being in the lee of San Juan Island, racers will see about 5-15 from the wsw with the possibility higher gusts as you sail up the west side of Shaw Island. Should be plenty of breeze to get around the course.
Tacoma may start off with 15-20 knots of sw breeze with the potential for gusts to 25+. Olympia will be slightly lighter but again with plenty of breeze to get around the course.
The breeze in the Straits will hold until late Sunday afternoon when the ridge of high pressure will begin to ease. This will mark the start of offshore flow and the arrival of cooler temps to our area. The high pressure will remain in place and keep storms away from our area for most of next week.
Enjoy the weekend, stay safe and stay healthy!
Ed. Note: National Weatherpersons Day? It’s a thing. February 5th is National Weatherperson’s Day. From NOAA:
February 5th is National Weatherperson’s Day. The day commemorates the birth of John Jeffries in 1744. Jeffries, one of Americas first weather observers, began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774 and he took the first balloon observation in 1784.
OK, Bruce, Happy Weatherperson’s Day. I’ll gift you some chilly weather and above average rainfall…..
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)