Weather Services

[winethief]

I am casting off this Fall for points south, Mexico, more specifically. What weather services does anyone use. Sirius, NOAA, etc.?

Thx,
George

s/v Wind Thief
Passport 40 #90

[markwesti]

I like this one but there is so much more .National Weather Service - NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard

[ka4wja]

George,
The answers to your question are actually pretty easy...

Originally Posted by winethief

I am casting off this Fall for points south, Mexico, more specifically. What weather services does anyone use. Sirius, NOAA, etc.?

1) The "gold standard" of marine weather info / forecasts are the NWS/NOAA Maritime WeFax (and Voice and Text) weather charts and images....(available on-line for free, or transmitted right to your boat, almost anywhere in the world for free!)
Updated 4 times a day, and transmitted by very powerful (4000 watt) USCG transmitters....so when offshore, and/or in remote areas where you have no internet access, you will still have access to some of the best, most experienced ocean meteorologists in the world...
[understand that these are US NWS/NOAA meteorologist / human-draw weather charts, based on ALL the weather data, computer modeling, and their considerable experience....these are NOT the raw computer model data, that you get with GRIB files...]


Note that NO PACTOR modem, nor sat phone, is necessary at all to receive any/all of the weather info/forecasts I'm writing about here, nor to stay in contact with other cruisers, or folks back home!!!


2) These WeFax charts, for your area, are primarily transmitted out of Pt. Reyes, CA (and some out of New Orleans), and you can see their schedules here...
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/hfreyes_links.htm
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/hfgulf_links.htm

And, here are links to other schedules...
http://weather.noaa.gov/fax/marine.shtml
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/rfax.pdf

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/radiofax.htm


Here are some examples:









There are a LOT more, these are just examples...

Please have a look at this series of Youtube videos, that show LIVE real-world examples of weather reception, sources available, etc., on-board a cruising sailboat....

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2mPZAx2vWzdjTJjHlChruyY



Note that NO PACTOR modem, nor sat phone, is necessary at all to receive any/all of the weather info/forecasts I'm writing about here, nor to stay in contact with other cruisers, or folks back home!!!


Also, for voice and text weather (not detailed for Mexico, but useful)...
http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/hfvoice.htm
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/hfsitor.htm




3) Depending on where you're planning on cruising, you will probably find local marine weather info being disseminated on Cruiser's Nets, especially Marine HF-SSB nets and HF Ham Radio Nets....like the Sonrisa Net, Picante Net, Amigo Net, Chubasco Net, etc.
http://www.docksideradio.com/west_coast.htm

http://sonrisanet.org/


BTW, for cruising almost anywhere you will want a good quality, well-installed HF-SSB-DSC Marine Radio (such as an Icom M-802), and cruising Mexico it is almost a necessity to be able to communicate with both other cruisers / other vessels and mainland / rest of the world....
So, I'm assuming you DO have one already???


Please have a look at this series of Youtube videos, that show LIVE real-world examples of Maritime HF Communication and HF-DSC Communications, etc., on-board a cruising sailboat....

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2nPNdApNsZDo_Jk3NB_Bt1y

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2n3z5nlv-ga2zYuPozhUXZX


And, specifically for the Icom M-802, instruction/explanation videos....
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2npivDjoFrC-8QKVyMb4tVr



Note that NO PACTOR modem, nor sat phone, is necessary at all to receive any/all of the weather info/forecasts I'm writing about here, nor to stay in contact with other cruisers, or folks back home!!!




4) In addition to the weather info above, Shipcom's WLO and KLB provide detailed offshore and hi-seas weather info by SSB Voice....AND provide quick/easy (and cheap) telephone calls to anyone, anywhere....($0.99/min...no contract, no BS)
http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html








5) When you are in areas of internet access (or you have good e-mail connectivity) you can have access to even more weather info / forecasts, some of which will be more specific to your immediate local area...
(but remember that many of these sites, such as passage weather, bouyweather, etc. although wonderful sites, are just presenting raw computer model data in a nice full-color chart...there is no human being making any forecast/judgment..)
http://www.passageweather.com/

http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=MSOC&program=Maps

www.weatherunderground.com



6) Finally....Sirius Marine weather's company WSI, uses the US NWS/NOAA forecasts for their offshore weather....and while this is good, Sirius does not provide much detail in areas beyond the US waters, out 250 miles...
(yes, you CAN still get the Sirius signal throughout Mexico, albeit some have reported some sporadic reception, the weather info is not too useful...and certainly doesn't provide anything that isn't already transmitted for Free, elsewhere...)

If you already have it, use it as and when you can....but do not go out and spend the $$$ on it if you don't already have it....





There's more info I can offer, but I hope the above helps you out some...
If you need more details / clarification, please just ask....someone will chime in!


Fair winds..

John


4) In addition to the weather info above, Shipcom's WLO and KLB provide detailed offshore and hi-seas weather info by SSB Voice....AND provide quick/easy (and cheap) telephone calls to anyone, anywhere....($0.99/min...no contract, no BS)
http://www.shipcom.com/frequencies.html

Here's just a short video showing some of their services, including making a phone call....LIVE, in the real world...

[zeehag]

eebmike, passage and nws.. in summer, storm 2k, a si enjoy watching them =grow, a slong a si am not in hit zone.....noaa and google wind and windyty

[ka4wja]

George,
I forgot about www.eebmike.com
Thanks for the reminder Zee!

Originally Posted by zeehag

eebmike, passage and nws...noaa and google wind and windyty

But, just be aware that when you're away from internet service, none of the fancy websites will do you any good...(yes, some have "low-bandwidth" options, but you still need an internet connection)



Fair winds...

John

[zeehag]

as i amno tplanning ion crossing any oceans until after i have my equipment installations and tepoairs complete, my websites i use are perfectly fine for my needs and the needs of anyone elese cruising where i cruise. as this is sumjmer, most plan around weather windows which CAN occur weekly here during cane seaon.
as i am one of those who advises folks in the pathways of the west coast mexico storms, i think i have it sussed pretty well. thankyou foryour concern.
most of the folks sailing across pacific use ssb for cruiser updates and weather updates and have grib file capability, among other options. they leave west coast mexico with much new gear and knowledge when doing pacific puddle jump.

[ka4wja]

Zee,
No worries here!

I realize that you, and many of us cruising, do have internet access....my comments about being aware were directed at George....(as I have no idea exact where he's planning on being, nor how his boat is equipped..)

Sorry if I wasn't clear...

Fair winds...

John