Small craft advisory?

[Cowpokey]

Checking the weather for this weekend, it looks really good. Then I pull up www.weather.gov and there's a small craft advisory starting late tonight.

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
735 AM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014

ANZ530>534-536>543-301945-
/O.CON.KLWX.SC.Y.0110.140531T0600Z-140531T1800Z/
CHESAPEAKE BAY NORTH OF POOLES ISLAND MD-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM POOLES ISLAND TO SANDY POINT MD-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SANDY POINT TO NORTH BEACH MD-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NORTH BEACH TO DRUM POINT MD-
CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM DRUM POINT MD TO SMITH POINT VA-
TIDAL POTOMAC FROM INDIAN HEAD TO COBB ISLAND MD-
TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND MD TO SMITH POINT VA-
PATAPSCO RIVER INCLUDING BALTIMORE HARBOR-
CHESTER RIVER TO QUEENSTOWN MD-EASTERN BAY-
CHOPTANK RIVER TO CAMBRIDGE MD AND THE LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER-
PATUXENT RIVER TO BROOMES ISLAND MD-
TANGIER SOUND AND THE INLAND WATERS SURROUNDING BLOODSWORTH
ISLAND-
735 AM EDT FRI MAY 30 2014

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 2 PM EDT
SATURDAY...

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 2 PM EDT
SATURDAY.

* WINDS...18 TO 33 KNOTS WITHIN THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND SPEEDS OF 18 TO 33 KNOTS
ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE HAZARDOUS WAVE CONDITIONS TO SMALL CRAFT.
INEXPERIENCED MARINERS...ESPECIALLY THOSE OPERATING SMALLER
VESSELS SHOULD AVOID NAVIGATING IN THESE CONDITIONS.

&&

$$

I haven't seen wind predictions of 18-33 knots on any other weather website, everything is 6-10 mph. Am I missing something?

[blackjack]

I started using weather underground,its been fairly accurate www.wunderground.com ,its saying 10-20 mph saturday.....

[Cowpokey]

I use that one too, didn't see 10-20...maybe I need to use a different location? You'd think everywhere in the DC Bmore corridor would have pretty much the same forecast.

[Frogsauce]

Wind will vary around the DC area as a whole. But the bay should have similar winds all around.

[Pinch]

http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/c...ge_kent_island

[Cowpokey]

http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/c...ge_kent_island

Sweet! Never saw that one before, got it bookmarked now.

[Pinch]

Sweet! Never saw that one before, got it bookmarked now.

That is my go to. It is the best I have found. I have the app on my phone and I bookmark all the places I fish on it.

[camelbird]

x2 on windfinder... think they have an app as well, haven't tried it tho

[J.A. Veil]

I used windfinder.com with the Annapolis station as my base point. When you look at the site you get the Forecast displayed. If you click on the Super Forecast tab, you get the forecast using a different meteorogical model. That gives you two different sets of data to consider. I suggest some caution when looking at the Tides tab. I have found this to be incorrect several times. But for wind predictions, it is pretty decent.

For the Annapolis station, they predict winds ranging from 3 to 11 mph for Sat and Sun. Knowing the direction of the wind is helpful if you are fishing in a tidal river. You can often tuck in the wind shadow of one shoreline and have calm conditions.

[Cowpokey]

Thanks for the info. On the app, do you use the pro or the free version?

[Southerly]

am I reading it wrong?

windfinder predicts not more than 9-14 for late this afternoon thru evening. I looked at the 'US current weather' barometric chart and am confident Southerly will exceed expectations

[Cowpokey]

I checked windfiner (from the link) earlier today and it still had the forecast starting last Friday. I wonder if it really been updated? Weatherbug shows 6mph right now...those are some lively trees for a minor wind like 6.

[J.A. Veil]

Windfinder misled me today. I checked at noon and saw winds less than 10. I launched at Sandy Pt at 1:30 to loads of whitecaps and 3-footers. It was not pleasant -- I cut the trip short.

[Southerly]

Windfinder misled me today. I checked at noon and saw winds less than 10. I launched at Sandy Pt at 1:30 to loads of whitecaps and 3-footers. It was not pleasant -- I cut the trip short.

dohh! hate when that happens. most cases, the forecast models seem pretty good but there are apparently local effects not always included. I think best bet is to check the forecasts, but keep eyes open and don't be surprised if the forecast is not entirely accurate. if there is a Small Craft Advisory - be advised.


I try to coordinate my plans to the forecasts. and if at all possible, have a backup location.