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Weather - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Most often bring clouds and rain
      - Low pressure systems are what form fronts
    - - Bring clearer weather
  - - - Cirrus clouds (high altitude clouds that look like wisps and streaks against a blue sky. Their tails point back to the low pressure system) accompanied by a drop in pressure. This is the best time to use the Cross Winds Rule
      - Cirrostratus clouds (Lower than cirrus, but still very high. Will cover all or most of the sky with a thin layer. You should still be able to see the sun.)
      - Altostratus (Lower clouds once again. Grey and overcast with possible light rain)
      - Nimbostratus (Low or very low thick, dark, grey rain clouds that cover the sky)
      - The following clouds usually appear in order preceding a warm front
    - - It will appear as a wall of dark clouds on the western horizon. The higher and darker, the worse the weather.
      - Cumulonimbus (Tall thick clouds low in elevation and dark at the base) An hour or so of heavy rain and wind until the front passes. Then pressure will rise, winds change sharply, and visibility improves.
      - Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Stratocumulus. Low thick cloud cover with wind and showers, after the cold front passes
      - Alto stratus (Grey, overcast showery weather with and increase in pressure)
      - Cirrostratus and possibly blue skies
      - Pressure will continue to rise for 24 hours after the cold front
  - - - If you are looking to go out and back the same way, it is usually best to start paddling into the wind, so that when you are tired on the way back, they wind will assist you.
      - If your route takes you directly into the wind the entire time, maybe consider an alternate route. If you are still set on your route, then look for terrain features that you can rest in their leeward side out of the wind.
      - Whenever strong winds are involved, be sure to have an accurate forecast. If the direction of wind changes it can have a dramatic effect on your day.
  - - - Start with your back to the wind, be sure that you are feeling the true direction of the wind, not a deflection off of nearby obstructions.
      - Next, look up towards the clouds to see upper level wind patterns.
      - If the clouds are moving from your left side, then the weather will likely get worse. This means that a lower pressure system is moving in.
      - If the clouds are moving from your right side, the weather will likely get better. This means that a higher pressure system is moving in
      - If the clouds are moving in line or parallel to your back, then the weather is unlikely to change.
- - - - Local land weather forecasts always begin with an hazardous weather conditions. The next part of the forecast is the "now cast" or current conditions at the nearest recording weather station. The now cast includes temperature, humidity, wind speed, direction, and gust, barometric pressure, dewpoint, visibility, and the time it was last updated.
      - Next the forecast gives a brief over view of temperatures and precipitation forecasted for the next 5 days at the selected location. There are also links to hourly weather and a three day history.
      - Finally, the detailed forecast describes precipitation, cloud cover and temperature explicitly
      - Temperatures on nearby mountains can easily be calculated using the adiabatic lapse rate, or the rate at which air cools as it increases in elevation. Lapse rate can vary from about 3 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit per 1000 feet of elevation. On average it is about 3 degrees. So for every 1000 ft that a given mountain is above the forecasted area, you can subtract 3 degrees from the temperature.
    - - Marine forecasts are broken down into coastal and offshore forecasts. For sea kayaking purposes, the coastal forecast is the most important.
      - Marine forecasts generally cover a larger area than land forecasts, however, due to regulation by the ocean these forecasts can be just as accurate.
      - The marine forecast starts with a brief synopsis describing general changes to weather in the area. If you're in a rush, you might be able to get the information you need out of this section.
      - The synopsis is followed by a 5 day forecast broken down into day and night. These daily forecasts will always include wind direction, speed and gust along with "seas" or wave height. When relevant, the forecast will also include visibility, and precipitation.
      - Occasionally, there will also be a small craft advisory attached to the forecast. This is a very simple way to see if conditions for paddling are going to be unfavorable. However, this should not be relied on 100%, sometimes conditions can be manageable during an advisory, and on the flip side not all hazardous conditions will create a small craft advisory.
      - The "Now Cast" or current weather in the area can be found at the top of each forecast, labeled "View Nearby Observations". This will give you a very recent report of nearby conditions mostly from offshore buoys. It includes: time, location, distance offshore, wind direction, wind speed, gust, wave height, dominant wave period, average wave period, mean wave direction, barometric pressure, air temperature, water temperature, dewpoint, visibility
    - - The most important information that the tides forecast gives are: times for high and low water, height of high and low water
      - The currents forecast gives information on when slack, flood, and ebb are; along with the max speed during flood and ebb.
    - - Magic seaweed is primarily a wave forecasting page for surfers. However, it can be very useful to us paddlers if you are able to find a beach nearby your paddling location listed.
      - Magic seaweed gives a general height, along with the height, period, and direction of the primary and secondary swell. Predictions are listed every 3 hours for the following week. For information on interpreting this, visit the waves chapter.
    - - Essentially notes left between forecasters in the head office as they change shifts.
      - Gives a written description of weather with a synopsis, near term, short term, and long term discussions. as well as specific marine forecast discussion
      - Forecast discussions are often very helpful as the forecasters will talk about how confident they are in the forecast. Sometimes the forecasters are almost 100% sure of their forecast, and other times they know that things are going to be variable in the near future. Knowing how much to trust the forecast can be a huge leg up over your everyday forecast.
      - Forecasters will also describe how the weather is predicted to change. Even if they get their timing wrong, they're usually right about this part, so you can prepare yourself.
      - Forecast discussions cover a very large are, so always use them alongside the context of your more local forecast
- - - - Ragged lumps of grey clouds coming windward below the main clouds: It will begin to rain in the next few moments
    - - Low cloud cover and cool rain changes to higher clouds and rain ends lower clouds may return with high humidity and rain: A warm front has passed
      - Warm humid air changes to moist polar air and visibility improves. A period of rain and showers with Cumulus clouds on the windward horizon: A cold front has passed
      - Warm front followed by a cold front with no tropical air in between: An occluded front has passed
  - - - Jet Stream Cirrus: High winds may be moving in soon
      - Cirrus and Cirrostratus: A warm front is on the way and wind and precipitation is likely
      - Warm front approaching: Wind and precipitation soon
      - Alto stratus ahead of a warm front: Moderate to major deterioration soon