A Trained Eye on the Weather
You've made your paddling plans, checked the local weather forecast and are finally on the water. Yet you wonder though...
How can I keep an eye on weather conditions throughout the paddle trip and know the signs that lead up to bad weather?
"The weather report didn't say anything about thunderstorms." Or, "It isn't supposed to rain today."
So, what are the signs that the weather will turn loose?
- Stratus clouds move in under cirrus clouds and get thicker and more dense
- Clouds begin to grow vertically as high cumulus clouds. This is particularly true if they start building early in the day.
- There is a line of dark heavy clouds to the west
- The sun or moon have fuzzy discs or have halos
- The wind increases in conjunction with thickening clouds
- The wind backs (Shifts in a counterclockwise direction) from southwest to south then to east
- The temperature is unusually cold or warm for the time of year
One of these signs by itself may not be conclusive evidence of problems to come but you should at least be cautious. Stay close to shore and do not try any long open water crossing where you are more than a 15 minute paddle from shore. Two or more signs are almost a sure thing and you might seriously consider staying ashore unless you will always have quick access to shelter or a landing.
Confident paddlers will note what is observed at the moment is less important then chages you observe. This means you must be constantly aware of how the sky, wind, and temperature are changing.
Remember too, even if you are good at instant weather forecasting you will still need that life jacket. No one can predict what a drunken power boater will do.