Related Weather Links

The weather in the Pacific Northwest is very dynamic. Paddling here requires a healthy respect for and a good understanding of the local weather and water (tide/current) patterns. Check out some of the sites below to learn more about how weather patterns work in this area and to get the latest condition reports and forecasts.

WEATHER / TIDES / CURRENTS AND NAVIGATION LINKS

NOAA National Weather Service - Ocean Predition Center
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/
Synoptic charts, surface flow prediction.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
www.noaa.gov
NOAA's homepage. A wealth of information on weather, tides, and currents.

NOAA Puget Sound & San Juan Islands Weather Stations at a Glance
www.wrh.noaa.gov/

Boater Information System (BIS) Portal
bis_portal.apl.washington.edu/

Washington State Ferry System Real-time Wind Reports
i90.atmos.washington.edu

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Weather & Wind Reports
www.wrh.noaa.gov
As you would expect, these reports are in aviation weather format but the wind speed and direction is very useful, especially for nearby paddling locations such as Deception Pass.

NOAA Weather Observations at Smith Island
www.ndbc.noaa.gov
Great for assessing conditions at Deception Pass as Smith Island is 10.5 miles south west of the pass.

NOAA Weather Observations at the Hein Bank Buoy
www.ndbc.noaa.gov
In the Strait of Juan de Fucca, 25 miles WSW of Deception Pass, 13 miles SW of Cattle Pass, 12 miles SE of Victoria Harbour.

Mount Washington Observatory
www.mountwashington.org
Mount Washington Observatory is an excellent source for weather related books & materials.

University of Washington Atmospheric Science - Coastal Marine Forecast
www.atmos.washington.edu
The best link for northwest coastal marine forecasts including the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound.

Tidal Heights in Seattle, Washington
www.dairiki.org
Great site for tides and currents data for the San Juan Islands, Deception Pass, and Puget Sound.

Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts - Tidal Planning Tool
www.wakekayak.org/map/
Interactive map with tide & current data for the Whatcom County area.

Environment Canada
www.weatheroffice.com
Environment Canada's comprehensive website is full of great weather knowledge.

NOAA Wavewatch III wave model page
polar.wwb.noaa.gov
This is NOAA's wave forecasting site with great graphs of pacific swell conditions.

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