Fools Gold

[Seeing Spots]

Have any of you ever noticed that if you look at the coastal forecast early in the week the sat and sun wind prediction will almost always be 5 to 10. You get out there and you have to add the 5 and the 10. I once called one of the meterologist NWS in Lake Charles and said, "Ya'll were calling for 5 Knot winds and smooooooooooth on protected waters so I decided to take my grandma out. We get out here and I'm looking at her with no dentures because all the waves knocked them out of her mouth!"(of course I was just joking) There was a little pause on the phone and a snicker but never an apology. Here is the number to the NWS incase you ever get in a bind. It has saved me a few times. I saw some stuff building on the north side of the lake and I launched at Calcasieu Pt. They told me to stay put on the south side and it should pass then get in because there was some more comming off the gulf. 337-477-5285.

Personally I have found the KATC Wind chart to be the most accurate. You have to go to the bottom left of their weather page and click on the icon. It gives you wind prediction in 3 hr intervals across the state. It only predicts 36 hrs in advance. 12 - 24 hr Predictions are extremely accurate. 36 hr prediction are not very accurate.