Web cams at the lakes

[baliweber]

I'm sure this is not the first time this topic has been discussed, and excuse my ignorance, but is it not possible to have webcams positioned at all the major lakes and linked to this website so that at any one time we can see what the live conditions are like? I would be more than willing to invest some of my own money in a network of cameras and computers. Any thoughts?

[mdh01]

definitely possible. Just need a place to host it with power and internet access. I donated a web cam that was installed on the north side of mille lacs at Carlsona restaurant. It was great having the cam and weather station to check the conditions. Sadly we lost that when the place burned down.

Mark

[JRN]

Have u checked out"LAKECAMS?" They have one in Isle, Mn that gives a pretty good view of the waters off of Father Hennepin State Park. I'm with you on getting other cams & weather stations out there. I think Coach once posted a link to a camera by the WBL Yacht Club, but I haven't been able to find it since. Maybe we could approach the folks at Castaways Resort on Milly about placing one there. There is also a windsurfer who retired along that shore. Does anyone recall his name?
He might be another possibility. Twin Pines resort on the West shore might be a good spot, & the owners are great people.
How about sharing the costs and site with LAKECAMS? It is meant for fishermen, but they share the same criteria for weather conditions. Maybe the Sail laVie site would work for WBL as well.

[matthewp]

I learned about the AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System, basically weather reporting from the local airports) yesterday from a unknown kiter at Medicine Lake. I think it really gives most of the info you could get from a webcam in a more quantitative format. The most relevant site for Medicine lake is Crystal airport, the link below gives you Crystal, plus MSP and a few others.

http://www.airportview.net/briefing.php?lid=MIC

You can also call 763-531-2343.

Matthew

[cericson01]

If you have an iPad/iPhone the aeroweather app is a good one for current conditions at any airport in the country and also for some airports includes a forecast. With all the airports there is bound to be one near your favorite kiting site! Also for those of you with a cell phone you can hear the latest conditions via phone just search for an Awos, so for example a search for litchfield Awos phone number gives you 320-693-6456 now you have 24 hours up to date weather conditions around Lake Washington! Crystal airport (suitable for Medicine Lake) is 763-531-2343. Just remember the speed is in knots not Mph.

[Tighe]

There is a list of many airport numbers in the WInd Page (Current) on this site.

http://www.lakawa.com/wind/airportnumbers.html

[kiteboymn]

The Brainerd # doesn't seem to work.

[davepark]

Brainerd is a Typo. Should be 828 not 823

[Tighe]

Thanks for the edit guys. Hopefully Mike can fix that.

[wyatt]

Believe it or not, it will be winter soon...

You can use these to pan on over to Kite Island and see if the kites are flying on Tonka:
http://www.minnetonkayachtclub.org/Webcam.aspx
http://www.wyc.org/Community/WebCam/tab ... fault.aspx

[windthrash]

http://mnlakecams.com/