Oskar Kihlborg/Volvo Ocean Race
Friday 16 January, 2009 03:00 GMT
A slight decreasing trend is expected for the wind speeds at the end of the week. Also there is an increasing chance of showers or squalls over the weekend.
TODAY: Look for N'ly winds in the morning. Then, after a midday lull, look for stronger N'ly to NNE'ly winds to mix down to the surface, causing gusts to the mid teens. If there is a right trend to NNE'ly, the peak winds will be around 15-17 knots in the afternoon. On the other hand, the more sun there is the more the winds will back and the less of a build there will be. Likewise, any afternoon squalls will have a big influence on the winds, with gusts ahead of any squalls and long lulls after the squalls. The day time high will be around 30C.
SATURDAY: The weather conditions will continue on Saturday with N to NNW'ly winds in the morning and an increasing chance of rain in the afternoon. The fewer rain showers that develop, the more likely you are to see a right trend (to NNE'ly) in the afternoon, with some increase in the wind speed. In this case look for the winds to be in the low teens through the afternoon, with peak winds near 14 knots. The more showers there are the less likely the winds are to build. In this case look for the winds to stay around 10 knots all day. Otherwise, the temperatures will be just shy of 30C.
SUNDAY: The winds look a little weaker for the start, with a backing trend through the morning and showers possible through the afternoon. As a result look for NNW'ly winds in the morning with some gusts to over 10 knots early in the day. Then look for a midday lull, with the winds dropping to less than 10 knots. The afternoon winds will depend on how many showers develop in the area. If there are no showers, the winds will back left with some break of sun, likely staying around 10 knots. The less sun there is the more likely there is to be a right shift in the afternoon with some build in the wind speed. The more right shifted the winds the more stable the wind direction will be. The temperatures will increase with a day time high likely to be over 30 C.
Jennifer Lilly