beach wind direction help?

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

I was checking the weather for this weekend, and it lookds decent. Is there a spot to tell which direction is optimal for which spot on the coast? (Newport has SE and ESE winds, Sunset has NE winds).

was considering just landboarding on sunset, but might consider getting in the water at newport if the wind is right. I've just never been there.

thanks!

splaterwin · Since 17 Nov 2005 165 Posts Vancouver Stoked

I wouldn't bet the farm on Ikitesurf computer model but here's what they say.

kiteboard117 · Since 02 Mar 2005 450 Posts PDX McLovin

Ikitesurf's models never seem to be right for the coast. This site seems to have a pretty good forcast from what i have seen http://magicseaweed.com/Lincoln-City-Surf-Report/316

bamboo · Since 24 Jun 2005 165 Posts da 'chung; taiwan Stoked

what about windguru's forecasts? they seem to be very accurate for everywhere else in the world EXCEPT oregon. what gives?

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

For Newport, JP and I generally use a combination of iKitesurf and NOAA. iKitesurf's forecast can really be off (their sensor is pretty far inland too), so we normally check the actual observations from both before we leave. Thankfully, when we're down here at school, it's only a 45 minute drive west! Also, if you're considering going out on the water, you might wanna try Siletz Bay in Lincoln City (the waters's a lot flatter when it gets nukin'). South Jetty can get pretty gnarly in a south wind as the swell doesn't get blocked by the jetty. We like north, northwest, and west. I haven't been out there in a couple weeks, but if you're looking to landboard, watch the tide tables. There's soooo much shit (logs, pieces of boats, etc.) on the beach, that if the tide is in, you won't have any room to ride.

Tucker, we gotta get a NEW pic (for your avatar) with your NEW Misfit! I still need mine too. FUCK!

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

With this information you can confirm their forecasts. As you get a feeling for local conditions and there corresponding forecast, you will be able to determine the timing. NOAA tends to be fairly accurate, but the timing can shift forward or backward as a front either stalls or accelerates.

A great book on NW weather is Marine Weather of Western Washington by Kenneth E. Lilly, Commander, NOAA http://www.starpath.com/catalog/books/1833.htm

Forecast Discussion NW Oregon - SW Washington:
http://w3.gorge.net/windwizard/f_disc_or-n.asp?

Marine Forecast Northern Oregon:
http://w3.gorge.net/windwizard/marineNOR.asp?

Marine Forecast Southern Oregon:
http://w3.gorge.net/windwizard/marineSOR.asp?

Marine Forecast Columbia Gorge:
http://w3.gorge.net/windwizard/marineCGW.asp?
http://w3.gorge.net/windwizard/marineCGE.asp?

Pressure Maps: 0,6,12,...,60 hr:
http://w3.gorge.net/windwizard/f_pres_Unisys.asp?

Presure maps 2-9 days:
http://w3.gorge.net/windwizard/f_pres_UnisysRUC240.asp?

Magic Seaweed looks like a good resource.

There is no better way to learn the weather than getting skunked. If you got the time Go.

I think Astoria will be the place this weekend as the wind looks to be more easterly in the pressure maps.

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

if the weather is good and someone decides to go out, please post here...would put up with a little cold this weekend to get some kite time in at the coast!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

just imagine last time this year it was 70 degrees, the skies were sunny, and the north wind was cranking!

ahh that was a good week. Very Happy

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

After living here in Newport for 18 years, and enduring south wind sessions on the bays and beaches for that long (windsurfing up till 5 years ago), I can say that south winds usually suck, but there are the occasional lucky days, like steady winds on on incoming high tide at Siletz Bay, good southwest direction coming right down the chute at Alsea Bay, the rare WSW at Yaquina Bay in front of the bridge on the outgoing, and the very rare south wind session in the ocean when the swells small enough to make it not a survival session. But those days are rare - usually you'll be looking at 15' mackers, with a ton of current, pouring rain, gusty on-off conditions, and cold ugly conditions. But, you don't know until you go, and you might just get lucky. Winter on the Oregon coast.

PLEASE, bring us high pressure and NNW wind soon!

Steve

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

i am so grateful to those willing to share their knowledge about different sites and conditions with those of us starting out. just think, we could be kiting wadell creek, and putting up with that possesive, xenophobic happy-crappy. for my more experienced bretheren on the coast, not to mention those in the columbia, the first round is on me. . .

my question: can someone describe, from what sounds to my newbie ears to be a complex mix of wind/tide/temperature, a bit of a cook-book approach for my first trip to the oregon coast. siletz bay looks friendly enough on mapquest, but where do you guys set up? what are the least-gnarly conditions for an up and coming oceon sailor? do you ever ride alone? how would you advise someone just going to the salt from the river?

thanks ahead

jimbo

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I don't know if you saw Jimbo, but awhile back I posted a pic up of where we normally park and setup at Siletz. So far it's my favorite spot on the central coast for fairly flat water riding (though I've only riden there, South Jetty, Newport, and Beverly Beach).

Here's a brief description that I put up before (revised)...
"I'm probably not the best person to get info from, but hopefully this will help ya out a bit. Heading north on 101 from Newport (heading south on 101, it's probably around a mile after Mo's) we turn on a side street just before this little art muesum with lots of metal pieces/wind chimes outside (not a great description, but I'm not quite sure on the name). Anywho, from there you head straight back into the neighborhood which is still on the east side of the bay. Most of the side streets to the right (bay side) are dead ends and one of the first ones has a "beach access" path. There's ONE parking spot infront of the little bathroom. From there it's a 200ft walk to the water.

Setup can be a pain in the ass, especially when the tide's considerably high as there's not a whole lot of beach, but it's just more work. The last time my roomie, JP (importracer9 99), and I were there a couple months back, we had ~5ft of beach max. When the tide is equal, or even negative, you can have an easy 50-100 feet of beach.

For the S to SSW wind we're always looking for the tide to be rising (opposing the wind) and vise versa on a N 'day'. The north wind days are awesome as the weather's generally nicer and the wind's a lot more steady, but gusty squally south can be fun too. Just don't be stupid like I was and launch your buddy on his 9m in 40-45kts! Wink

I'm sure there's other stuff to watch out for, but the main and obvious thing would be the massive stumps, logs, and driftwood fixed and floating in the bay. On an average tide height day, most of the bay is waste deep, (excluding the channel) so it's pretty easy to see the fixed pieces of wood that don't really ever move."

Here's a pano of Siletz that JP took a couple trips back. NO wind that day Sad

And a link to the higher res version... SiletzHighRes.jpg

And a satellite pic that I drew on. A couple things that I forgot to mention are, the farther "in" (east on the map) you launch, the more of a wind shadow there is, and as you can see in the pic, a lot of the bay looks like land. I'm pretty sure that the picture was just taken on a low tide day, but most of the time you probably can't touch when the tide's up. On the other hand, I've been cruising over there when it's out/down in less than 6 inches of pure "glass".

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

There is a shot of the bay (webcam) on jonnycam.com at http://www.jonnycam.com/webcam.htm

Lots of photos of the area, kiting and surf.

BK

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Nothing special... just finally got bored and decided to splice a Siletz pan I took about a year ago. Our old one from high tide still needs to be redone. Sorry it's shitty, just did it quick! Very Happy

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

I check out the NOAA station on South Beach - usually pretty accurate if you look at the past few hours history.
But hey, can't you just drive down there!?

Damn that's a long pic - screwed the formatting to hell!

Mr.Onepump · Since 11 Sep 2006 66 Posts Albany

I was wondering what happened to this thread!!! Cool picture though.
I'm with steve on the on the north winds, can't be beat at least on the central coast. Did anyone make it out last saturday btw? Looked like it got good in the afternoon.

Ron,