Trying to assess the conditions out on the water when you’re sitting at home or in the office can be trying. Even if you’re on the boat at the dock, it’s good to know what major weather changes might be looming just over the horizon. Now, SailNet takes all the guesswork out what the weather gods might blow your way.
You’ll find the Weather Center Located in the box marked "Popular Features," located on the left of every SailNet page. Recently the Weather Center underwent a major facelift to make it international in scope and to bring you marine warnings faster. You do not have to be a SailNet Member to use most of the features.
When you open the new SailNet Weather Center, a map of the US pops up. Clicking on a region, then on a state, and finally on an individual city or area will bring up the local weather forecast, present conditions, and a current radar map of the area. It’s that simple.
You’ll find easy-to-understand categories right at the top of the Weather Center page. The first one is named "Marine Forecast." A click on this will call up images and information on all the waters of the US as well as all special marine warnings and watches.
The second button is labeled "Hurricane Warnings." Here you will find a tropical weather discussion and any warnings on potentially dangerous weather. Satellite graphics of the tropics and a hurricane tracking function are added bonuses.
The third item is "Tides," which you can use to anticipate the height of water and currents in your local sailing area.
Do you need marine weather outside the US? The fourth tab is marked simply "International," and it provides marine weather information on nearly every country in the world that has waters you might sail.
The last button is marked "My Weather." This feature is currently under construction and is the only feature of the Weather Center that will require you to be a SailNet Member before you can use it—but remember that SailNet Membership is absolutely free. My Weather will allow you to customize the display so that your sailing area comes up automatically, giving you fast and easy access to only the information you want.
The new SailNet Weather Center is just one of the many features we offer to make your sailing easier, safer, and more enjoyable. If you haven’t yet discovered all the exciting sources of information, opinion, and connection to other sailors available to you at SailNet, take a moment to wander around the site and discover for yourself why we are THE Sailing Source.
