Good Morning Rowers!
It looks like you made it to Tofino. I hope it went as smoothly as
possible. The Tofino airport data just came back online in the last
few hours. Since 6am they have had winds at approximately 4 knots,
rising pressure, and scattered showers. From 6-7am the winds were from
the east, but at 8 am the winds were from the west-southwest. The La
Perouse Bank Bouy, which is the the waters to your west has had winds
from the south and southwest generally around 5-7 knots, waves between
2-3 m, and rising pressure. A recent satellite overpass indicates
that winds in your region are approximately 5 knots and from the
west-southwest.
(http://manati.orbit.nesdis.noaa.gov/ascat_images/cur_25km_TEST/zooms/WMBas37.png)
Short term forecast:
Their continues to be a lot of uncertainty about the forecast. The
models are suggesting that a weak front will pass over your region
throughout today. Environment Canada predicts that the front will be
near your position by 9:30pm tonight. Winds will continue to come from
the west-southwest and be approximately 5 knots for a few hours this
morning. However, winds turn so that they are coming from the south
and southeast and increase to 15 knots with gusts to 30 knots by
midnight tonight. Waves throughout this time appear to remain at
approximately 2-3 m. Environment Canada is predicting winds winds from
the west at 10-15 knots turning and coming from the south at 15-20
knots by late morning. By late this afternoon they suggest that the
winds will be 20-30 knots.
Long term forecast:
After the front passes a ridge of high pressure will build. After
midnight, the winds will begin to decrease and turn so that they are
once again from the west over the open water. However, the GFS is
suggesting that there will be narrow band of strong winds from the
southwest (20knots) along the coast of Vancouver Island throughout
Saturday morning. The winds along the coast do not turn so that they
are from the west and decrease to 10 knots until approximately 2 pm on
Saturday. After this point the winds will remain approximately 10
knots gusting to near 20 knots and turn so that they are coming from
the northwest. Environment Canada suggests that winds will be 5-15
knots from the northwest by Saturday afternoon. Waves throughout this
time will continue to diminish to 1-2 m. The next front and low
appears to arrive late Sunday night into Monday morning. As this
approaches winds will turn so that they are from the west on Sunday
evening and southwest by Monday morning. The storm will be approaching
from the north, so the timing of the wind shift will be later as you
travel farther south. So there is a chance that Saturday afternoon
will be good rowing conditions.