Chicago Yacht Club Race To Mackinac
Weather Resources

Click on image for details.

Weather Resources
Sailing and weather are intrinsically linked. Experienced Mac sailors understand that developing a pre-race weather forecast and monitoring its evolution on the racecourse is an important strategic and safety aspect of participating in the Race. Misjudging the wind forecast can quickly send you to the back of your fleet, while failing to properly assess the risk for severe weather can unnecessarily jeopardize the safety of the crew.

 


Weather Prediction Center (WPC) - Forecast imagery which shows the predicted location of high pressure systems, low pressure systems, along with their accompanying frontal boundaries. Clicking on an image opens a larger version in a new window. Click here to visit the Weather Prediction Center's home page.

Short-Range Forecasts
Valid:
12-hour
18-hour
24-hour
30-hour
36-hour
48-hour
60-hour



Long-Range Forecasts

Valid:
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7


Weather Prediction Center (WPC) - Forecast imagery which shows the total precipitation expected during each 24-hour period. Clicking on an image opens a larger version in a new window. Click here to visit the Weather Prediction Center's home page.

Precipitation Forecasts

Valid:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4-5
Days 6-7


Storm Prediction Center (SPC) - Convective Outlooks issued by the SPC highlight the areas of the U.S. at risk for the development of organized severe thunderstorms. Clicking on an image opens a new window that contains the Convective Outlook image and the forecaster's discussion of the risk. Click here to visit the Storm Prediction Center's home page.

Convective Outlooks

Valid:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4-8


National Weather Service - Hazardous Weather Outlooks (HWOs) are published each day by each National Weather Service office and describe the potential for the development of severe weather in non-technical terms. In addition, the HWO offers guidance regarding the nature, timing and geographic location where severe weather is expected to develop. The six NWS offices listed below share responsibility for Lake Michigan. Click here for a chart showing each office's forecast area. Clicking on the NWS logo will open the HWO in a new window.


Hazardous Weather Outlooks

Office:
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, IN
Milwaukee, WI
Grand Rapids, MI
Green Bay, WI
Gaylord, MI


National Weather Service - Doppler Radar
The six NWS offices listed below maintain a Doppler radar station which covers a portion of Lake Michigan. Click here for a map showing the location of the radar stations.

Doppler Radar

Site:
Chicago, IL
Syracuse, IN
Milwaukee, WI
Grand Rapids, MI
Green Bay, WI
Gaylord, MI


National Weather Service - Text Great Lakes Marine Forecasts



Wind/Wave Forecasting Resources



Miscellaneous Resources



Contact Information
Mark A. Thornton
Mark@LakeErieWX.com