Winter Storms on
the North Coast
Hecate’s storm and Rupert’s calm
While the Winter storm that played itself out on Thursday and Friday (February 1&2) was powerful in Hecate Straits, it did not affect Prince Rupert that much. Locally it was a nice afternoon while nearby in Hecate the winds were gusting 50 knots and the seas were 24 feet high on average
|
North
Nomad |
(5:00
pm PST |
46184 |
NNE
( 20 deg ) |
25.3 kts |
33.0
kts |
12.5
ft |
|
West Dixon Entrance |
(5:00
pm PST |
46205 |
E
( 80 deg ) |
25.3 kts |
31.1
kts |
10.8
ft |
|
North Hecate Straits |
(5:00
pm PST |
46183 |
ESE
( 120 deg ) |
31.1 kts |
38.9 kts |
15.7
ft |
|
South Moresby |
(5:00
pm PST |
46147 |
SSE
( 160 deg ) |
27.2 kts |
36.9 kts |
23.6 ft |
|
Middle
Nomad |
(5:00
pm PST |
46004 |
S
( 180 deg ) |
23.3 kts |
29.1
kts |
13.1
ft |
|
East Dellwood |
(5:00
pm PST |
46207 |
SE
( 130 deg ) |
29.1 kts |
48.6 kts |
19.4
ft |
Here is the apparent reason—while the low pressure area was just off the (center) Charlottes’ the jetstream/ spinning weather system were directed NW and parallel to the coast (right)
Friday Morning
Barometers began to rise (graphs, in same order as table); and the winds turned west as the system’s warm front has moved through Rupert giving some occasional gusty winds but not nearly so bad as a few days ago.
|
North
Nomad |
(9:00
am PST) |
46184 |
NW ( 310 deg ) |
11.7 kts |
17.5
kts |
13.8
ft |
|
West Dixon Entrance |
(9:00
am PST) |
46205 |
SSE
( 160 deg ) |
19.4 kts |
25.3
kts |
11.8
ft |
|
North Hecate Straits |
(9:00
am PST) |
46183 |
S
( 170 deg ) |
25.3 kts |
31.1 kts |
13.8
ft |
|
South Moresby |
(9:00
am PST) |
46147 |
SW ( 230 deg ) |
23.3 kts |
31.1
kts |
17.4
ft |
|
Middle
Nomad |
(9:00
am PST) |
46004 |
W ( 280 deg ) |
35.0 kts |
42.7 kts |
23.3 ft |
|
East Dellwood |
(9:00
am PST) |
46207 |
S
( 190 deg ) |
19.4 kts |
27.2
kts |
18.0 ft |
The next storm is already forming on the horizon
That is why these wider satellite images are better than the ones for the coast. We can see ‘almost to Japan’
Friday afternoon --Barometer Rising –Blustery West wind clears away the clouds
Clearing
from the west; most of the barometers (see graphs) are rising rapidly. The
strongest winds are offshore, but they could reach Hecate in a few hours. (see
table)
The cold front form West pushed some heavy showers/ rain before it, but by late afternoon the sky was brightening to the west,
Offshore the next system has almost reached the W Aleutians in Alaska.
|
North
Nomad |
(3:00
pm PST) |
46184 |
NW
( 310 deg ) |
36.9 kts |
48.6 kts |
17.7
ft |
|
West Dixon Entrance |
(3:00
pm PST) |
46205 |
WSW
( 240 deg ) |
21.4 kts |
27.2
kts |
15.7
ft |
|
North Hecate Straits |
(3:00
pm PST) |
46183 |
S
( 180 deg ) |
23.3 kts |
29.1
kts |
9.8
ft |
|
South Moresby |
(3:00
pm PST) |
46147 |
SW
( 230 deg ) |
25.3 kts |
33.0 kts |
20.7
ft |
|
Middle
Nomad |
(3:00
pm PST) |
46004 |
W
( 270 deg ) |
25.3 kts |
33.0 kts |
23.0
ft |
|
East Dellwood |
(3:00
pm PST) |
46207 |
SW
( 220 deg ) |
23.3 kts |
25.3
kts |
18.4
ft |
Winds following the barometric pressure contours (below) the center of the low is to the north
Sources for imagery
Jetstream model
Barometric pressure contours model superimposed on satellite imagery
Global disc view from GOES 10 of western hemisphere
Graphic view of Hecate winds and sea heights
Graphs and Table are from this XLS file which I made and can be downloaded here. One updates by simply pushing one control button on toolbar.
Comments? Mistakes? Contact Larry
