Bay Water Conditions

[ccriders]

Where can I find definitions for descriptions of bay water conditions used in local weather reports. The terms used are "calm", "slightly choppy", "occasionally choppy", "choppy" and "rough".
I have found several descriptions for sea states which revolve around wave height and period, but nothing for "choppy'.
Any ideas?
John

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by ccriders

Where can I find definitions for descriptions of bay water conditions used in local weather reports. The terms used are "calm", "slightly choppy", "occasionally choppy", "choppy" and "rough".
I have found several descriptions for sea states which revolve around wave height and period, but nothing for "choppy'.
Any ideas?
John

Who's developing the weather product? NOAA is pretty good about providing resources to decode their products but if its a local weather channel you're talking about it may just be the terms their weather guy made up.

[mgiguere]

I assume you're talking about the Chesapeake Bay...I even have the app for my iPhone, but here's the link I look at. Pick your location--mine's Thomas Point Light. NDBC - Chesapeake Bay Recent Marine Data

[SlowButSteady]

Originally Posted by ccriders

Where can I find definitions for descriptions of bay water conditions used in local weather reports. The terms used are "calm", "slightly choppy", "occasionally choppy", "choppy" and "rough".
I have found several descriptions for sea states which revolve around wave height and period, but nothing for "choppy'.
Any ideas?
John

Calm -- a bottle of beer stays put on the cockpit seat without intervention
Slightly choppy -- bottle of beer has to be held or nestled in a corner of the cockpit on the lee side
Occasionally choppy -- things look calm just long enough to fool one into leaving beer unattended, then the wind comes up and the dreaded spillage results
Choppy -- beer has to be held in one hand, and the other used for holding onto the boat
Rough -- half the crew starts losing previously consumed beer, bagels, lunch, etc. (hopefully over the lee side)

[ccriders]

Well it is Corpus Christi Bay and it is the National Weather Service Marine Forcasts. And I cannot find definitions anywhere on their website. Everytime I chase it around I end up with sea states and the Beaufort scale.
From what I have read, Naragansat (sp?) Bay also has chop caused by big wind over shallow water, as is the case here. What I experienced in the Chesapeake was more like ocean rollers that the chop we get here - very steep with a short period and when they predict "choppy" trough to crest is atleast five feet, maybe more.
The beer definitions are right on though. I would only add that beer down below is a nonstarter when it is "choppy".
John

[travlineasy]

For Chesapeake Bay there are Smart Buoys, which can be found at Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (CBIBS) I'm not sure about your area, but I would think they would have something similar.

Gary

[dacap06]

Ccriders, I believe you might find this site and this page useful.

[ccriders]

Thanks DaCap
Getting the wind information is actually easy and very convenient as there are several reporting stations that can be accessed on line and/or from a cell phone. I have developed pretty good ability to judge the wind and adjust sails accordingly.
What I am trying to find is what is the definition of the description of "choppy" as used in NWS marine weather reports.
Thanks,
John

[dacap06]

Originally Posted by ccriders

Thanks DaCap
What I am trying to find is what is the definition of the description of "choppy" as used in NWS marine weather reports.
Thanks,
John

I couldn't say what those definitions are. The second link I gave you gives the swell height in feet and the period in seconds. Frankly, I would find that far more useful than those broad categories the NWS uses, were I there with you.

[ccriders]

I posed this question mainly so that I could have a more precise understanding of the sailing conditions when I take nonsailing people out for a day sail. I finally querried the NWS and they responded that the terms "choppy" and "rough" have no specific meaning. That is pretty wierd to me, the NWS will describe marine conditions with words that have no specific meaning.
I wonder what other nonspecific words they are using. I guess the beer parameters are a go!
John