Paddlesports Weather Forecasting for enclosed and coastal waters - using the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology website.
This is how the team at East Coast Kayaking now navigates the BOM web page for paddlesports on enclosed and coastal waters after their $96M upgrade - Nice work team…Basically what we are doing is accessing the old site! And bypassing the new one!
It is always good to save your links and create hot links.
1. We Google search:
MetEye - Click on MetEye to see the forecast winds for the next week.
2. Next click on VIC Drop Down and or NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT depending on where you are paddling and choose option Forecasting.
And we are back to the old web page and access Marine Areas - the best resource for your enclosed and coastal paddlesports weather forecasting!
Under Marine Areas, select the area you will be paddling - either from the list or via clickable map. The wind is the thing - check for any marine wind warnings!
You can also access MetEye from this page under Graphical Views (zoomed in to a local area).
Now you have to work out if they have got it right, referring to the wind strength and direction, and they usually do. Wind is pressure and pressure is measurable and they generally do a good job of interpreting it, but you do have to make sure you trust it before you leave the beach, that the actual wind is matching the forecast predictions.
It's better to be on the beach wishing you were out paddling than out paddling and wishing you were on the beach!
We do use multiple sites to do our weather forecasting. Let us know if you enjoyed this and we will write more for you.
NB - “Please be aware” - and I have seen this happen a couple of times! (A warning resulting from 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race events).
Always plan for the worst and hope for the best…
Come to East Coast Kayaking and learn with us.
Click to image to view BOM Learning Centre.