Our mild fall weather will continue as the Pacific High (1030MB) now has a SW to NE orientation extending from roughly 37N 150W to 50N 135W. Combine this with a jet stream, whose flow is now meridional and coming ashore in southern Oregon, with a shift to the north as the week goes on and you can see how storm systems will be directed to the north of the Salish Sea. Once again we are so lucky to be living here, just look at the rain New York City is getting today. 3-4 months worth of rain happening in one day. Yikes!
As a ridge of high-pressure rebuilds over our area, a northerly flow will develop and increase tonight and into tomorrow. This will bring a northerly breeze of 8-16 knots to the northern waters and central Sound. If you’re racing in the central Sound note that this is a northerly not NW flow. This will ease as an onshore flow brings a westerly breeze down the Strait of JdF starting early Saturday evening. The pressure gradient will ease early Sunday morning bringing light air to the area except in the southern part of the Strait of Georgia which will see NW breeze of 12-20 knots.
The other chart of interest is the 96hr 500MB chart which shows a distinct meridional flow around an upper-level high centered at 40N 135W. This will direct the jet stream well to the north coming ashore near Ketchikan. This will keep temperatures mild and the chance of rain fairly low for the Salish Sea for at least the next 10 days. We have a slightly elevated chance of rain for Monday as the remnants of a weak cold front drag over the area. After that, temps will start to rise.
Enjoy the 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)