Any thoughts on winds in Leewards?

[Zoomer]

Good Day All,
Its the middle of April and the winds have been HONKIN' fm. NE in St Maarten for the last 24 hrs.

Any thoughts?

Seems somewhat extreme for this time of the year?!
Thanks,
Ed
sv Dreamtime

[Palarran]

The wind patterns are a little weird. Not in the intensity but in the direction. They should be turning from the SE but are blowing from the NE to N. A day or two of 25 knots isn't unusual for the times I've been there.

Now what was really weird is that two weeks ago there where about 4 days of dead calm in a row.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Zoomer

Good Day All,
Its the middle of April and the winds have been HONKIN' fm. NE in St Maarten for the last 24 hrs.

Any thoughts?

Seems somewhat extreme for this time of the year?!
Thanks,
Ed
sv Dreamtime

It's pretty normal. Enjoy it while it lasts, it'll start to get hot next month!

ciao!
Nick.

[Zoomer]

No. Guys, these are not "Christmas Winds". I have been cruising full time in the Caribbean for the last seven years and I know when something is not right. 24Hrs. later and go to:
Tropical Atlantic - Rainbow Loop (Flash) - Satellite Services Division/Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution
soon, 4/18 PM, and you will see that there is a epic storm that will wreak
havoc on our sailing brothers & sisters.
Let your heart and your soul be still for a moment.

[Palarran]

Ed, have you looked at a 5 day animated grib file? It looks almost like a low intensity hurricane. I'm hoping it calms down soon.

[Ram]

Wow thats big and nasty!! I hope no ones out there sailing!

[Zoomer]

"hoping it calms down soon"
"hope no ones out there sailing"
I hear you.

[s/v Jedi]

You must be looking at another weather source than I am, because all I see is 20-25kts trade winds (with some 30 knot stuff) and the regular ITCZ convection... no storms.

Can you say around which coordinates you are looking?

tnx,
Nick.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

You must be looking at another weather source than I am, because all I see is 20-25kts trade winds (with some 30 knot stuff) and the regular ITCZ convection... no storms.

Can you say around which coordinates you are looking?

tnx,
Nick.

FOLLOW THE LINK ON POST 4

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Ram

FOLLOW THE LINK ON POST 4

I did... where's the epic storm? Did you check the HDW-low box for surface winds?

ciao!
Nick.

[Zoomer]

You would not want to be half way to the Azores tonight.
I don't care what the models may say.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Zoomer

You would not want to be half way to the Azores tonight.
I don't care what the models may say.

Oh, I don't care for any models. But this is the link you put forward and it's actual satellite images, not modeled forecast or anything.

There is some frontal activity there, but it's pretty much 15-20 knots of wind which is normal. Not an epic storm AFAIK.

Here's the written weather discussion for the area from NOAA:

THE ATLANTIC OCEAN...
A 1028 MB HIGH IS CENTERED OVER THE W ATLANTIC NEAR 30N70W
PRODUCING FAIR WEATHER. A COLD FRONT IS OVER THE CENTRAL
ATLANTIC FROM 30N45W TO 24N45W TO 19N50W TO 16N56W. A SHEARLINE
CONTINUES TO THE E CARIBBEAN NEAR 15N60W. RAIN AND SHOWERS ARE
WITHIN 120 NM E OF THE FRONT N OF 23N. RAIN AND SHOWERS ARE
WITHIN 60 NM OF THE REMAINDER OF THE FRONT AND SHEARLINE. A 1036
MB HIGH IS CENTERED OVER THE THE AZORES NEAR 39N27W. FURTHER
S...WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE NOTED OVER THE CANARY ISLANDS.
IN THE UPPER LEVELS...A LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW IS CENTERED NEAR
35N52W SUPPORTING THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC FRONT. EXPECT OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS FOR THE FRONT TO BECOME QUASI-STATIONARY WITH RAIN
AND SHOWERS.

cheers,
Nick.

[Zoomer]

As we used to say back in Fl/Bahamas,
"NOAA will kill ya".

cheers.