Instant Wind Forecasting

Instant Wind Forecasting is a quick reference guide for all who work or play outdoors whether dinghy, coastal or offshore sailors, fishermen, motorboaters, farmers, golfers, walkers or pilots. It will help them make meaningful predictions based on the look of the sky and the feel of the day. This book is the perfect companion to Alan Watt's international bestseller Instant Weather Forecasting. Its easily accessible format and revolutionary presentation has established the author's reputation as a layman's meteorologist. 'Still the best book of its kind around' All At Sea 'Worthwhile having either at home or on board' The Gaffers Log Cover 1 CONTENTS 6 INTRODUCTION 8 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 10 WINDS AND PRESSURE 12 Basic facts about sailing winds 12 How to judge wind speed 12 What winds do 12 Local or coastal winds 12 Beaufort’s Scale of wind speed 13 How to make a reliable wind assessment 17 Are you clear of obstructions to the wind? 17 Mean wind 17 How strong is the wind at sea? 19 How strong are the gusts? 21 How high are the waves at sea? 24 WIND SHIFTS OF POOR WEATHER 27 Cyclonic winds 27 How to recognise the approach of cyclonic weather 27 Forecast or actual weather 28 Will there be a permanent wind shift? 33 Will there be a big blow? 37 LOCAL WINDS 39 About local winds 39 Wind zones of the coast 46 The wind’s day 48 About the sea breeze 52 Sea breeze effects to seaward 52 Windshift events of the typical sea breeze day 55 Wind from the land 55 Wind along the coast 56 Will there be a sea breeze? 57 When to expect a sea breeze windshift – Morning wind blowing from the land 59 Time by which sea breeze should have occurred 59 Recognising the coming breeze 60 Landward zones 60 Seaward zones 60 Will there be a nocturnal wind? 63 Where will there be local wind shifts? 65 The Mediterranean 68 Regional winds of the Mediterranean 69 Micro wind shifts: the quality of the wind 71 Wind quality 71 Scale of variability 72 Recognising and using the normal tactical airstream 75 What anemograms tell us 77 Recognising and using the abnormal tactical airstream 80 DAYS WITH RECOGNISABLE WIND PATTERNS 83 Zones to seaward of main coastline 84 Fair weather – cumulus clouds 83 Big cumulus, cumulonimbus and showers 87 Warm days – perhaps thundery 91 Zones to seaward and landward of main coastline 96 Increasing high cloud and backing winds 95 Zones to landward of main coastline 98 Fair weather – cumulus clouds 97 Big cumulus, cumulonimbus and showers 101 Warm days – perhaps thundery 105 FRONTAL WAVE PATTERNS 107 Mini depressions 107 Waves on fronts 107 INLAND SAILING 109 Lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of inland water 110 Mountain lakes, tarns etc 112 Winds of the Great Lakes 115 Will there be a lake breeze? 115 What is the lake breeze season? 116 What is the likely direction over the lake? 116 HAVE YOU CONSIDERED... ? 117 Hints on pre-race planning 117 Race planning for restricted waters 117 Other books 119 Cover......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 6 INTRODUCTION......Page 8 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK......Page 10 Local or coastal winds......Page 12 Beaufort’s Scale of wind speed......Page 13 Mean wind......Page 17 How strong is the wind at sea?......Page 19 How strong are the gusts?......Page 21 How high are the waves at sea?......Page 24 How to recognise the approach of cyclonic weather......Page 27 Forecast or actual weather......Page 28 Will there be a permanent wind shift?......Page 33 Will there be a big blow?......Page 37 About local winds......Page 39 Wind zones of the coast......Page 46 The wind’s day......Page 48 Sea breeze effects to seaward......Page 52 Wind from the land......Page 55 Wind along the coast......Page 56 Will there be a sea breeze?......Page 57 Time by which sea breeze should have occurred......Page 59 Seaward zones......Page 60 Will there be a nocturnal wind?......Page 63 Where will there be local wind shifts?......Page 65 The Mediterranean......Page 68 Regional winds of the Mediterranean......Page 69 Wind quality......Page 71 Scale of variability......Page 72 Recognising and using the normal tactical airstream......Page 75 What anemograms tell us......Page 77 Recognising and using the abnormal tactical airstream......Page 80 Fair weather – cumulus clouds......Page 83 Zones to seaward of main coastline......Page 84 Big cumulus, cumulonimbus and showers......Page 87 Warm days – perhaps thundery......Page 91 Zones to seaward and landward of main coastline......Page 96 Increasing high cloud and backing winds......Page 95 Zones to landward of main coastline......Page 98 Fair weather – cumulus clouds......Page 97 Big cumulus, cumulonimbus and showers......Page 101 Warm days – perhaps thundery......Page 105 Waves on fronts......Page 107 INLAND SAILING......Page 109 Lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of inland water......Page 110 Mountain lakes, tarns etc......Page 112 Will there be a lake breeze?......Page 115 What is the likely direction over the lake?......Page 116 Race planning for restricted waters......Page 117 Other books......Page 119 Weather expert Alan Watts uses 24 colour photographs of cloud formations to accompany detailed and accessible explanations, enabling readers to read the sky and predict what the weather will do.