1. Home
2. Marine Transportation
3. Marine Safety
4. Marine Safety Publications
5. Sea Kayaking Safety Guide - TP 14726
6. Weather

Weather

Previous Page | Next Page

Modern life has left us out of touch with the weather. We no longer pay it proper respect or know how to read its signs. Yet respecting and understanding weather is essential for outdoor activities, especially sea kayaking. Large bodies of water are susceptible to highly variable weather conditions that can have a considerable and rapid impact on boating conditions (wind, waves, tides, lightning, fog, etc.).

There are several ways to get a good idea of upcoming weather conditions. None of them are infallible, but in combination you should get fairly reliable information.

Weather Forecasts

Forecasts issued by mainstream media outlets cover large areas and only give a general idea of weather conditions over land. For marine forecasts, you should listen to the weather reports broadcast on Weatheradio covering the southern part of the country. They are updated four times a day and can be received using low-cost, pre-tuned receivers, VHF radios or scanners (see Chapter 19 for radio frequencies).

The Canadian Coast Guard also broadcasts continuous weather reports on the VHF band featuring general forecasts, forecasts for coastal areas, and notices to mariners.

Basic Knowledge

It only takes a basic grasp of meteorological knowledge to interpret forecasts and adapt them to local conditions. Caution: Weather conditions over water can be very different from those on land. Listen to marine weather forecasts regularly (see Resources, and References).

Since the terminology used in forecasts is standardized, you should know your basic terms: units used for wind speed (km/h, knots, Beaufort), pressure (millibars or hectoPascals [hPa]), and wind direction. If you understand the forecast you'll be in a better position to anticipate potential problems.

The arrival of a warm front generally means a progressive change (24 to 48 hours) that brings widespread rain. Cold fronts move rapidly and are accompanied by strong winds, storms, and squalls. Squalls are characterized by violent and sudden gusts of wind causing heavy swell. They can last up to 15 minutes and are a major danger for kayakers.

Stay Alert

A good sense of observation will help you keep track of changes in local weather conditions over the short term: changes in cloud cover, sharp variations in temperature, lay of the land, and local prevailing winds.

Wind speed, for example, can double in narrows, creating strong waves. In encased valleys, wind may blow from an unexpected direction and increase in intensity. Wind can also whip up the seas at the base of cliffs because of localized turbulence.

Weather conditions on the water can be very different to those on land.

Previous Page | Next Page

Date modified:

2010-01-19

Primary navigation