Category Archives: weather notes

Rosedale Breakers!

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Tuesday, December 04, 2001

 Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 6.9C — Min 2.9C — Reset 4.8C — Rain 5.6 mm no Snow
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:19 PM
HUMAN IMPACT: The racerocks.com group went to the island today to drop off a Sony camera with Carol and Mike. Carol and Mike have been requested by Fisheries (DFO) to record the ecological impact of the DND blasting that is to occur tomorrow at Rocky Point. Often, by the third blast, the sealions are scared off the rocks, possibly resulting in injury. Many of the sealions on Race Rocks have quite large scars on their undersides. Sealions are also scared by boats passing too close to the rocks.
ENVIRONMENT: We were treated to the rare sight of two Rosedale breakers. These breaking waves are the result of long, high energy waves, generated in the Pacific Ocean. When the waves reach Rosedale Reef, the most shallow point in the area, the pent up energy causes the wave to break. Refer to http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/data/data.htmto get a link to NOAA/NCEP Wavewatch for more information.We can see that the snow is building up on the Olympic Mountains with the snow line moving down almost daily. At this time of year the clearcuts are quite visible.
posted by Damien Guihen at 5:19 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast — Vis 15 Miles — Wind West South West 15 Knots — Sea 2 – 3 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:22 AM

swells

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Wednesday, November 21, 2001
Good evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 10.0ºC — Min. 8.1ºC — Reset 8.3ºC — Rain 6.4 mm getting close to the 100mm for the month
MARINE LIFE:Although the wind was fairly light most of the day (E 06),there was a low easterly swell until just before dark when the wind picked up to 28-31 knts.Another noisy night as the swells have now also begun to build high enough to roll the logs around on the shore. We counted 87 Northern,and 44 California Sea Lions hauled out on Middle Rock with another 30 Northern on Gr.Race.One of the Northern Sea Lions,a very large fellow hauled out in the small east bay,has an open wound approximately 30cmX40cm on his lower chest.Looks like a raw red patch with the fur completely gone. The edges of the wound are quite smooth. One of the 5 California Sea Lions that spent most of the day on the dock has a yellow tag on his right flipper with the #791.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:15 PM
Good morning
WEATHER: Sky overcast — Vis. 15 mils — Light rain — Wind south 3 knots — Sea rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:21 AM

seagull prey

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Tuesday, November 20, 2001
Good evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 11.0ºC — Min. 8.7ºC — Reset 9.3ºC — Rain 5.4 mm
MARINE LIFE:the wind abated somewhat this morning but the 1-2 metre swells were still coming in from the east and the Sea Lions favoured the relative calm of the kelp beds on the south side just below the engine room.Through out the day there were several large groups rafting in that area until approximately 15:30 when the wind increased to 30knts.and the swells to 3-4 metres.5 Bald Eagles(3 mature) visited today but stayed only 21/2 hours.One adult gull was caught and eaten(by one of the mature eagles) just in front of the learning centre.One of the juvenile Eagles looked very thin and shaggy.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:16 PM
Good morning
WEATHER: Sky overcast with occasional brake — Vis. 15 mile — Wind south east 12 knots — Sea 1 foot chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:26 AM

Large swells

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Monday, November 19, 2001
Good evening
TEMPERATURE: Max 11.0ºC — Min. 7.1ºC — Reset 10.0ºC — Rain 10.2
MARINE LIFE: Except for a few Sea Lions most of the marine mammals preferred to stay in the water yesterday and today.The familiar growls and barks have been replaced by the roar of the 4-5 metre swells crashing along the shore.Some of the swells bring large logs that make quite a bit of noise as they grind against the rocks and when the tide is high the waves even move boulders around -definitely not boating weather!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:09 PM
Good morning
WEATHER: Sky overcast — Vis. 10 rain — Wind north 23 G 30 knots — Sea 5 foot moderate – moderate north east swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:28 AM

Seabirds feeding in large numbers

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Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Good evening

Max. 10.5ºC — Min. 8.3ºC — Reset 9.4ºC — Rain 7.6 mm
WEATHER:The day started off fairly calm but by 14:00 there were 3-4metre swells pounding the eastern shore-this sea condition due to the 40-45knot winds from the weather system 15kms to the east.Our wind never rose above E 22 and then it lasted only 30minutes.
MARINE LIFE: 1500-1800 sea birds,mostly gulls and cormorants,spent the morning feeding in the large kelp bed on the east side of Gr.Race but when the large swells started rolling in and breaking, most came ashore and settled along the ridges on the south side.The 2 Northern,13 California and 3 Northern Elephant Seals hauled out in the small east bay went into the water after 15 minutes or so of rollers breaking over them. Maybe the 35-40 Harbour Seals that frequent this small area will ‘reclaim’ their their spot!
The Sea Lions and Seals do often share haul-out areas but since it is a very small bay I think the smaller seals feel intimidated as the number of Sea Lions gets past 4 or 5.Several years ago one of the Harbour Seals was crushed to death when 30 or so Sea Lions ‘stampeded’ into the water because of a boat passing too close to shore.
An immature Bald Eagle caught an immature gull in the SE rocks area a little after 11:00, spent 15-20 minutes eating and putting the run on 7 crows trying to share in it’s good fortune. Finished eating, the eagle circled the island once then headed towards Whirl Bay.
As the swells roll through the kelp beds much of it is breaking away and floating by in big clumps-a sure sign of winter on it’s way!
HUMAN INTERACTIONS: U.Vic Lifetimer boat with students again today.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:21 PM
Good morning
Sky overcast — Vis. 12 miles — Light rain showers — Wind north 13 knots — Sea 1’chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:35 AM

Large wave day, Minke Whale observed

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Friday, November 02, 2001
Good evening
WEATHER: Max. 10.7ºC — Min 7.5ºC — Reset 8.1ºC Rain 0.4 mm Wind was light and variable. It was a great day to be on the rock.
Although the sea was fairly calm, the 4-6′ swells coming in from the west and piling up to 10-12′ green and white frothy curls on the underwater reefs made for great wave watching!
MARINE LIFE: The birds continue to feed in in large numbers but impossible to count because of the glare on the sea.It was also impossible to positively identify a whale that looked like a 18-20′ Minke Whale even with the telescope, because of the glare and distance.2 of the 4 Northern Elephant Seals regularly hauling out in various areas of Gr. Race spent several hours on the boat ramp enjoying the sun.
HUMAN INTERACTION: There were 5 tour boats and one pleasure craft (4 metre sailboat) in the M.P.A. today.posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:20 PM
Good morning
Sky part cloudy — Vis. 15 miles — Wind west 14 knots — Sea 1 – 2 foot chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:17 AM

No blasting today– sealions return

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 Good morning
Sky overcast — Vis 15 — Wind west 9 knots — Sea rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:40 AM

After a quiet weekend (no blasting at D.N.D.) only 85 Sea Lions have returned to their usual haul-out areas.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 10:49 AM

The poor quality video from camera#1 and especially #3 is because of the sheets of rain driven by the 45-50knt. winds we are enjoying at this time! The visibility is very poor but looks like all but 8 or 9 sea lions have moved into the water, the aprox. 300 gulls are all huddled together in small groups facing into the westerly.13 Black Oyster Catchers are together in a small depression on the east side of Gr. Race in the shelter of the house.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 3:48 PM

Weather notes

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Wednesday, October 10, 2001
Good evening
Max. 11.0ºC — Min. 8.1ºC — reset 10.5ºC rain fall for the day 9.2mm
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:06 PM
in the last 20 minutes the weather has deteriorated – winds are west 30 gusting 40 knots with 4′ seas
posted by Carol or Mike S at 3:08 PM
Good morning
Sky overcast — Vis. 12 miles — light rain — Wind north east 11 knots — Sea rippled
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:10 AM

Temperature rise

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temperature rise today is reflected in the return of the seagulls and 150 cormorants +60 starlings, 25 black Turnstons, 15 black oyster catchers, 16 crows, 21 bald eagles [10 mature

5 sealions hauled out on North  rock.  120  sealions  on West race. 22 on great race .

143/32  second nature  was out with BCTEL  learning Channel promo visit. Angus, Garry, and Chris with them.