Weather Alert Reminder

[Shawn]

Just a reminder, if your VHF has a Weather Alert function be sure to always have that turned on. It might save you from a tough situation or at least prepare you for one.

Yesterday, when I went out the sky was clearing with about an 8 knot wind out of the SW. Weather report was saying clearing conditions as well. I kept watching the weather in that direction (and checking a weather radar app. which turned out to be wrong) and was tacking back and forth close hauled.

The VHF went into Weather Alert mode (never heard it do that before) and a severe storm warning had been issued for where I was. There was a strong thunderstorm heading down the bay from the North at about 22 knots with winds up to 35MPH. As I turn around to scan the sky I saw lightning flashing off in the distance. I immediately tacked back to head toward port, about 2 miles away, and heading NW a bit toward the storm. As I was doing about 4 knots under sail I fired up the Tohatsu to motorsail at hull speed. I had initially seen the darker sky over that way before but had assumed it was heading away as that was the direction the wind was blowing.

I could see the line of the storm but was having a hard time judging the distance away, my radar app. wasn't showing anything (wasn't updating for some reason). I decided to drop sails as I didn't want to get hit with them up. Once they were down I had the tiller pilot pointing toward home port while I was busy bagging the jib and getting the cover on the main and closing up the ship.

I ended up making it back in time. About 20 minutes after I was docked the storm hit with very strong rain.

If the Weather Alert hadn't been set I'd have likely been hit by the storm. The tack I was on I would have been for another 10 minutes at least (heading away from home port). If I tacked then and saw the nasty weather approaching at that point it would have hit me while I was docking. Any later than that and I wouldn't have made it back in in time. At that point I would have dropped anchor and wait it out.

Shawn

[Bob23]

Good point, Shawn.
   Night before last, we watched the thunderheads building in the west from our house. RadarNow app showed no storms in my area. 5 minutes later, winds went from zero to 50 and torrential rain. Only when the storm went offshore did the radar app detect it. Technology is no match for knowledge of local conditions and a barometer.
bob23

[HideAway]

Bob 23 is exactly right - You have to be watching all the time and use your local knowledge.  The electronics are nice but they are only one tool.   The pop up summer storms happen so fast around here the radar won t show them until its over.   I m amazed that Shawn actually beat the storm -- we usually get wet -- Matt

[Shawn]

Matt,

I beat the storm but still got wet. I went back to the boat to put my kids life jackets inside. Literally, when I cracked the hatch the skies opened up and I got drenched walking back from the dock. It reminded me I haven't put my foulies back in the boat yet.

Shawn