Wind Websites

Dopper · Post by **Dopper** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 7:51 pm

Could some of you please tell me what website or sites is best for checking wind conditions? I'm new to windsurfing. It seems that when I bring up the weather report. It is usually correct as to direction but usually off as far as how strong or weak it is going to be. Is this the weather report or just unpredictable weather in Minnesota? Some days I go out thinking it is going to be good and it's not and visa versa!
Thanks alot,
Dopper

scottchapman · Post by **scottchapman** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:45 pm

Have you tried clicking on the wind link on this page ?????? You should find all you need there. Watch the posts here too. Most of use are weather men for our second jobs, or aleast we think we are.......?????
Great day before 1:20 at Wac on the 14 kite today.....

Dopper · Post by **Dopper** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 10:01 pm

scottchapman wrote: Have you tried clicking on the wind link on this page ?????? You should find all you need there. Watch the posts here too. Most of use are weather men for our second jobs, or aleast we think we are.......?????
Great day before 1:20 at Wac on the 14 kite today.....

I have used this website but sometimes it will say the wind is low 6-10mph and the next day I see people chatting on this site talking about how great and strong the wind was? I figured maybe it wasn't all that accurate. Last Thurs. it said that the wind was going to be low (under 10 mph) and I went out to Whitebear and it was great! (10-15 for a beginner such as myself. With stronger gusts. )When I got back home it had been up-graded higher but not until it would have been to late for me to go...had I waited. I was out on Waconia about noon today it was pretty nice. Alot of kiters and windsurfers showed up later. I was on the south side of the lake so I didn't get to enjoy their company. Dopper

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 10:31 pm

I've noticed Accuweather.com often predicts more wind than the link on this site. Sometimes they're right. They also try to predict out for up to 14 days which is pretty impossible for Minnesota. right now they're predicting wind in the mid teens with gusts in the twentys for the TC tomorrow afternoon and this site is saying it won't be much over 10 knots, which is basically the same accept for the gust prediction. They're also predicting similar wind for Monday and Tuesday. But that forcast often changes as it gets closer. Might be helpful to check along with this site. And I have found when chat says it's going to'go off', it almost always does.

scottchapman · Post by **scottchapman** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 12:31 am

NWS is unreliable. The Isobars showing the pressure gradient is the best determiner of future wind. Ngm shows them as does some of the other links. Experimental shows wind forecasts about 48 hours out. This is one of your best bets of wind prediction. Looking to see when the fronts are moving through, if the low ( or pressure is dropping) also helps. Plot maps also help. When the day is progressing I only look at the current conditions. Checking the wind to the west in Hutchinson and around it helps give me a read on when it is coming. Winds 1 and 2 show how close the wind is. But a good pressure gradient on the {Pressure} link in currents conditions will tell you if there is a good chance of wind. thunderstorms and cloud lines also affect the wind.
So, as you see there is a lot to consider. Learning how they all affect each other is the trick....at best we can only look at the odds of potential wind....and like most weathermen we can be wrong. And Mother Nature says, “nope sorry not today”, but then just like a woman she says, “come on let’s party”..........

I hope that helps a bit.

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Jul 28, 2003 10:33 am

I couldn't of said it better Scott.

One might ask why are all the links on the Wind page then if only some of them are accurate. Sometimes taking a poll is your best approach. As Scott points out, it isn't a science. I found it really helps to take the approach that I'm "going to the lake" instead of "going sailing", that way I enjoy whatever I find there.

Best advice:

Always have all your gear with you, including a lawnchair.

Jason J · Post by **Jason J** » Tue Jul 29, 2003 1:59 pm

Always have all your gear with you, including a lawnchair.

...and if its winter time, always have your gear with you to include jigsticks.

Jason