Your Scariest Moment on the Water

[fatluke]

My scariest moment was this past Monday.

Battery died, opposite end of lake, it was 3:30 and I wasn't going to make it home in time for Oprah.......and possibly be late for Dr. Phil.. Thank god for time shifting.... I was so scared.

[plncrzy]

[quote="Dore819
All I can tell you is the that weather is impossible to predict.... changes all the time.... the fools at the weather network wake up in the morning and script up a random forecast .... [/quote]

Well I wonder why countries all around the world spend billions of $$ forecasting the weather if its always wrong? I wonder why airlines spend MILLIONS for weather forecasts so that they can safely operate their planes? I wonder why shipping companies pay Millions for the same? I can go on and on for hours here about the proven benefits and users of weather forecasts, but I wont be able to convince the redneck ignorant people who refuse to admit that the forecast is acurate A LOT more time than not.... I'get as angry as anybody else does when the forecast doesnt work out. The forecast is not always correct and it NEVER will be.. but I also know how good and usefull it can be if used correctly with some common sense and ability. It can ad does save lives if used properly. The point of this thread is to list the scariest moments... Too many of which are weather related and too many of which could easily have been avoided if people like you had the capacity to understand, adapt and make use of the information available.

The weather channel is a private forecast company that uses MOSTLY American weather data (my understanding) ... if your not happy with their forecast, then use somebody elses.... learn about forecasting yourself and apply some simple rules to save your own life perhaps....

People who say "Its impossible to forecast the weather" IMHO are no better/smarter than those people who died in the mountains snowmobiling in an area of extreme avalanche danger because they felt they were safe even thought he forecast was saying it was not.


BTW... the froecast for the last 3 weeks (from Enviornment Canada) has been virtually 100% correct, the warm weather etc and now the rain and even thunderstorms have been forecast with utmost accuracy.

[almontefisher]

[quote="Dore819
All I can tell you is the that weather is impossible to predict.... changes all the time.... the fools at the weather network wake up in the morning and script up a random forecast ....

Well I wonder why countries all around the world spend MIllions and billions of $$ forecasting the weather? I wonder why airlines pay MILLIONS of $$ for weather forecasts so that they can safely operate their planes? I can go on and on for Hours here about the proven benefits of a weather forecast. but I wont be able to convince the redneck ignorant people who refuse to admit that the forecast is acurate A LOT more time than not.... I'get as angry as anybody else does when the forecast doesnt work out... but I also know how good and usefull it can be if used correctly with some common sense and ability. It can ad does save lives if used properly. The point of this thread is to list the scariest moments... Too many of which are weather related and too many of which could easily have been avoided if people like you had the capacity to understand, adapt and make use of the information available.

The weather channel is a private forecast company that uses MOSTLY american weather data (my understanding) ... if your not happy with their forecast, then use somebody elses.... learn about forecasting yourself and apply some simple rules to save your own life perhaps....

People who say "Its impossible to forecast the weather" IMHO are no better/smarter than those people who died in the mountains snowmobiling in an area of extreme avalanche danger because they felt they were safe even thought he forecast was saying it was not.


BTW... the froecast for the last 3 weeks (from Enviornment Canada) has been virtually 100% correct, the warm weather etc and now the rain and even thunderstorms have been forecast with utmost accuracy.[/quote]


NOTHING MORE TO SAY BUT GOOD ON YOU SERGE...SOME OF US RESPECT WHAT YOU DO.

[plncrzy]

NOTHING MORE TO SAY BUT GOOD ON YOU SERGE...SOME OF US RESPECT WHAT YOU DO.

Thanks

I do get a lot of respect from the people I work with these days (wind energy industry) ... its just the general public that I find are just now opening their eyes to the uses and possibilities.

I dont blame all of the public however.. I actually wrote a paper and presented on this topic many years ago. "barriers to comunicating the forecast"

In summary;

So much of the problem is getting the right information to the right user... we cant forecast every persons needs, so we wash it down and disseminate it as "the public forecast" ... which is left to the media or web sites to display. Only the people/organizations that can afford to have a specific/catered forecast will get exactly what they want/need. The rest of us either have to hunt for the correct forecast, and/or learn how to interpret and adapt others users forecasts to our own needs.

The example and point is;

Public forecast for Ottawa is calling wind west 20km/h.....

Dont expect the winds on the Ottawa River to be 20km/h ..... more like 30 or perhaps 35km/h. .... also if your going to venture out onto large lakes etc... know the local effects, scan local topography for its effects on winds (funneling, eddies, revers winds, etc etc etc)

[Dore]

Lets remember that plncrzy has dedicated 20+ years of his life to weather forecasting. He has spent months away from his family, years (plural) living in the arctic, and made a lot of sacrifices along the way. Maybe you should think about that before cutting down what someone does for a living.

What do you do for a living?

Why so personal.... did I disrespect plncrzy ... No! Freedom of speech my friend..... Freedom of speech Art 2 (b) of the 1982 Canadian Charter of rights and freedom...! Now guess what I do for a living...

[almontefisher]

Lets remember that plncrzy has dedicated 20+ years of his life to weather forecasting. He has spent months away from his family, years (plural) living in the arctic, and made a lot of sacrifices along the way. Maybe you should think about that before cutting down what someone does for a living.

What do you do for a living?

Why so personal.... did I disrespect plncrzy ... No! Freedom of speech my friend..... Freedom of speech Art 2 (b) of the 1982 Canadian Charter of rights and freedom...! Now guess what I do for a living...

I am going to guess not a proof reader Dore.... Did not know about this illusive Art 2 (b) section of the Charter.... Sorry but could not resist.

[Andy_L]

Lets remember that plncrzy has dedicated 20+ years of his life to weather forecasting. He has spent months away from his family, years (plural) living in the arctic, and made a lot of sacrifices along the way. Maybe you should think about that before cutting down what someone does for a living.

What do you do for a living?

Why so personal.... did I disrespect plncrzy ... No! Freedom of speech my friend..... Freedom of speech Art 2 (b) of the 1982 Canadian Charter of rights and freedom...! Now guess what I do for a living...

just for the record..."freedom of speech" doesn't apply. This is a privately owned website that you are a member of.

[Dore]

Lets remember that plncrzy has dedicated 20+ years of his life to weather forecasting. He has spent months away from his family, years (plural) living in the arctic, and made a lot of sacrifices along the way. Maybe you should think about that before cutting down what someone does for a living.

What do you do for a living?

Why so personal.... did I disrespect plncrzy ... No! Freedom of speech my friend..... Freedom of speech Art 2 (b) of the 1982 Canadian Charter of rights and freedom...! Now guess what I do for a living...

I am going to guess not a proof reader Dore.... Did not know about this illusive Art 2 (b) section of the Charter.... Sorry but could not resist.

Nop I have an assistant who does all of that

[Dore]

Now back on topic......... I was on the Gatineau River with my buddy Derek last year, when suddenly the engine died and it was getting dark. I look towards the east side of the river and see this black purple shaped cloud coming are way.... wind was pushing the boat the opposite direction of the boat launch. I realized that Derek won't get this boat started, I pulled out the whistle from the good old safety kit and we got some help by a fellow fisherman who was nice enough to pull us back to shore. We didn’t have enough time to put the boat on the trailer and it was raining 25 cent style drops! Man was I ever glad to be on land!

[almontefisher]

Why so personal.... did I disrespect plncrzy ... No! Freedom of speech my friend..... Freedom of speech Art 2 (b) of the 1982 Canadian Charter of rights and freedom...! Now guess what I do for a living...

I am going to guess not a proof reader Dore.... Did not know about this illusive Art 2 (b) section of the Charter.... Sorry but could not resist.

Nop I have an assistant who does all of that

Nice.....

[RobM]

Lets remember that plncrzy has dedicated 20+ years of his life to weather forecasting. He has spent months away from his family, years (plural) living in the arctic, and made a lot of sacrifices along the way. Maybe you should think about that before cutting down what someone does for a living.

What do you do for a living?

Why so personal.... did I disrespect plncrzy ... No! Freedom of speech my friend..... Freedom of speech Art 2 (b) of the 1982 Canadian Charter of rights and freedom...! Now guess what I do for a living...

You missed my point entirely. You responded to a weather forcaster's post with:

All I can tell you is the that weather is impossible to predict.... changes all the time.... the fools at the weather network wake up in the morning and script up a random forecast .... Wink

The point I was trying to make was that YOU were making a personal attack. I don't care what you do for a living.....just pointing out that it is easy to cut down someone's career from the safety of your keyboard, without divulging any personal information about yourself.

Now....how does everyone feel about lawyers?

Rob - Crusader of rights for weathermen everywhere.

[fiiish]

I thought I would try and lighten the mood on this thread that seems to have gone off topic. First I'll share a story of my "scariest" moment on the water...

I had to leave an island I was camping on in the middle of a heavy downpour that had been going on all day. The trip back to the mainland was a little over 5 kms and the wind had created waves that were over 3 feet high. The lake was large and deep but the worst part of all... the trip back was done in a canoe full of gear. It took 2.5 hrs of non-stop paddling to get back and I made it in one piece.
Feeling the power of nature gives me a rush so I don't think I was actually ever truly scared. I guess the adrenaline had numbed the fear factor.
Looking at it now, I certainly must have been crazy, but it was kind of fun in a way.

-- -----------------------------

Now, since we've been mostly talking about weather, I've had a theory about the weather for a while now and so far I've been bang on.
Feel free to use this simple little formula to create your own forecast so you can always be prepared for anything that comes your way...

Today and everyday = 50% chance of precipitation.

Thanks

[Fishing 24/7]

4 foot waves on basquetong!

and i hate the fact that we have weatherchannels.


1. look out side

2. go fishing or dont



too many times i checked the weather channel and got right in the sucker.

[Bass Addict]

I guess you learn something new everyday...


The Weather forecast is accurate..and if you don't beleive that your dumb /stupid/low intelligence/uneducated/a slow learner etc etc..


Sounds to me like thats a personal attack on other fish-hawkers..

[plncrzy]

I guess you learn something new everyday...


The Weather forecast is accurate..and if you don't beleive that your dumb /stupid/low intelligence/uneducated/a slow learner etc etc..


Sounds to me like thats a personal attack on other fish-hawkers..

wow, that's quite the interpretation.

My interpretation is;

1. The forecast is correct more times than not for the intended audience/location and use.
2. If you want the forecast for lake X ... don't try to use a forecast for city Y and expect it to be accurate.
3. If you are going to use a forecast for anything other than simply planning your day around the house or your drive to-from work... you better access a different forecast than the typical public forecast available on a web site or media outlet.