Here are the sites we found useful during this year's Squadron Weather class.  If you find any of these links broken please let the Webmaster know!  Your comments are welcome too.

Current Reported Conditions:

(1)  Washington NWS reported conditions map or click in table for details

(2)  Pressure gradients that drive the winds

(3)  Ferry wind reports

(4)  Radar short-range base reflectivity

(5)  Satellite image selections

Forecasts and Big Picture:

(1)  Forecaster's discussion (some unvarnished words of context and uncertainties)

(2)  Marine forecast text as read over the VHF: Washington and BC

(3)  Pacific weather maps: scroll down to surface maps, current and 24, 48 or 96 hours out

(4)  NDFD forecast grids to 5 km resolution prepared by NOAA regional centers, accessible in XML or graphical form (source for XM and Sirius satellite radio plots).

(5)  New UW Boaters Information System summarizes forecasts in a nifty graphical format on maps for tides, winds, etc.  Boaters Information System

(6)  University of Washington local forecast simulation maps:

NAM Link this gets you a large table of options.  Try scrolling down to the MM5-NAM 12 km Domain section, find the SLP, 10 m winds, topography or 925 mb temp or Surface wind speed row, then select either a LOOP or the forecast hour you would like out to 72 hours.

GFS Link has a MM5-GFS 4 km Domain out to 48 hours.  Check the Subdomain surface (10m) wind speed narrowed to our boating area.

Ensembles for a collection of models

General Sites:

These two excellent general weather sites access lots of other resources and some explanations.  If a link is broken above you might be able to find its new location though one of these pages.  Or check them out when you just want to do some weather web surfing:

National Weather Service NW Forecast Center at Sand Point

University of Washington resource list

Lt Scott Semyan, P has compiled a creative presentation of the weather from various sources covering the areas he is interested in.  With all the usual disclaimers from Scott and the Power Squadrons have a look at:

 http://www.semyan.com/asp/Weather.aspx