Best forcast of PNW ocean conditions

[fgraham]

I need to leave Tacoma-Seattle area to Coos Bay Oregon. What is the best scource of wave and weather info.
Thanks Frank

[Paul Elliott]

I start here: Ocean Prediction Center - Pacific Marine

This is also useful: https://www.windy.com/?45.959,-127.002,6

[Stu Jackson]

Multiple sources are always "best."

Coming up the coast in 2016 I used https://www.passageweather.com/ and noaa.

[fgraham]

Thank You !

[waterman46]

On my Android phone I use the free Windy app, probably available for IPhone also. You should have continuous cell-phone coverage within 10 miles of shore, but others may correct me on that.

Windy can show direction and strength of wind, wind gusts, wind waves, swell from different directions, rain, and lots more all graphically on a map.

[01kiwijohn]

No question; use the NOAA Ocean Prediction site. Others may have fancier graphics and stuff but this is the origin of their data. It also uses less transmission data. Used it for years.

[Maka]

Agree with multi source info

[Cpt Mark]

You can call or stop by any NOAA office for detailed predictions. They love it when sailors pop in. 7/24 service and it's free.

I used windy and windfinder when I came up from SF to Portland in October. Generally the predictions were good but since it's all an educated guess, not always accurate especially when rounding the various capes and other geologic protrusions. The forecasts are for a large area which encompasses the entire area. Some of that may have no wind, other parts 40 knots. Coming into the Columbia river winds were predicted 5-10. They were 40-45.

[Paul Elliott]

Do look at the text forecasts in my link above (Ocean Prediction Center - Pacific Marine) These probably provide better insight into the near-shore conditions than do the graphical charts.

Also, there are bar reports and cameras for the WA and OR coast:
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/marine/BarObs.php
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/marine/bars_mover.php

[jackdale]

I would start here:

Northeast Pacific WX Briefing Package

If you want these images offshore you can request them through SailDocs.

[Mithril Bham]

Don't go during the winter.

[MorePlease]

Windy.com has my vote!

[rbk]

As mentioned multiple sources. noaa is usually spot on with their forecasts but can be off +/- 24-48 hours. If they say a front is moving in on a certain date and time, it could hit 24 hours early or late but it WILL. Windy has been one of my favourite supplementary weather apps, you can check the 500mb graphics for pressure but have to adjust it in wind then move over to pressure (this has changed off and on over the last 3 years) wundergeound.com also does a good ten day graph with wind, precipitation and pressure but the forecast is as good as any other but current conditions tend to be more accurate. Lastly are the coastal aviation web cameras, can take some time to find the southern ones you want but larger municipal ones will broadcast current and last 12 hours of conditions (temp, pressure, wind speed, visibility, sky conditions etc) and some will have METAR data for TAF (airplane weather forecasting so it tends to be quite accurate out to 72 hours) Someone has conveniently created an app for all Alaska aiviation web cams so I’m sure there are more out there for southern states as well. If not there are state websites for most listing all operating and non operating cameras with details for METAR if available.