Exuma Weather Pattern (2013)

February 10, 2013

 

We are currently lying off Lee Stocking Island waiting out yet another strong easterly wind.  Another post on Lee Stocking will follow, but this post is about the weather pattern in the Exumas so far this year.

 

First a disclaimer.  This is our first year in the Exumas, so this is only based on observations this year to date.  These patterns may or may not be that typical, but seem to be very consistent so far this year.

 

Frontal passages in the south east United States (most of our experience being Florida) typically follow a relatively predictable wind pattern. First the prevailing easterlies start to clock to the south, then the west, then the northwest, and then through the north and back to east.  The strength of the front can be estimated by the speed and strength of the clocking winds – fast clocking strong winds indicate a strong front.  The strongest winds are typically from the northwest and north directions.  This is the pattern when the cold front clearly pushes or passes through the area.

 

This year in the Exumas has been dominated by a relatively strong Atlantic high.  This high typically keeps the fronts from passing through southern latitudes during the summer months, but it usually loses strength in the winter allowing the fronts to travel  further south. But this year at least, the fronts have not been pushing through the northern Bahamas, resulting in a significant deviation from the typical wind pattern.  As the front approaches, it stalls above or in the northwest Bahamas.  This creates a very weak clocking or light and variable winds ahead of the front in the Exumas.  These winds are good for motor sailing, but typically not very good sailing winds.  Then a strong easterly to south easterly  wind sets up for several days to a week.  These winds and the accompanying waves are challenging sailing, especially in that as you travel down the Exuma chain, you are usually headed approximately south east right into these winds.

 

Thus it has made it relatively hard to make progress down the Exuma chain and  has provided numerous periods when we need to get good protection and wait out the winds. This has not been a real problem in that we have not been on any schedule and have enjoyed all our stays.

 

A testimony to the strength of the winds this year is our relatively new Bahamian courtesy flag, which is getting very tattered.

 

 

 

The positive side to the weather pattern is that we have not had to seek shelter from any significant periods of west  or north winds.  Anchorages providing protection  from east winds are numerous in the Exumas, protection from west to north winds  is much harder to find.

 

Tom

Anchored at Lee Stocking Island

Exuma, Bahamas

Cruise 2012-13