Predicting autumn morning fog

Bear Guy · 08-23-2019, 12:15 PM

Weather folks: I'm wondering if there's a way to predict if and where portions of the lake will be fogged-in on a fall morning.
The problem - I'm considering commuting to work a few mornings in September by boat from Bear Island. I did this last year too - one morning was fine but the next I had to wait almost 2 hours for the fog to lift so I could head to the marina. I rely on visual navigation - I don't own a special GPS for the lake - so being able to see where I'm going matters.

upthesaukee · 08-23-2019, 12:29 PM

Watch dewpoint temperatures vs air temperatures. The closer those two are, there is a likelihood of fog, especially with calm winds.

One point: using a GPS device to navigate in fog may keep you from hitting an island, a shoal area, e.t.c., but won't keep you from hitting another vessel doing the same thing!

Dave

MDoug · 08-23-2019, 01:24 PM

I use Raymarine gps and radar. My iphone Google Maps app also works ok as backup gps

Slickcraft · 08-23-2019, 02:34 PM

I agree with UP. A cold calm morning in the fall usually does it. Even a mild breeze like 3 or 4 mph will clear the fog. Dead calm and cold then you will have a long wait for it to clear.

Several mornings each fall we go from Welch to Glendale in fog via GPS. We go slow both of us looking and listening for that other boat. Yes when following a GPS route in fog, the other boat is the real concern.

upthesaukee · 08-23-2019, 03:27 PM

Per the NH Boating Guide, page 37 (I think), states that in reduced visibility, a powerboat should sound a prolonged blast at intervals not to exceed 2 minutes.

Dave

Riviera · 08-23-2019, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Guy

Weather folks: I'm wondering if there's a way to predict if and where portions of the lake will be fogged-in on a fall morning.

Try usairnet.com It's an aviation website that shows the ceiling (cloud height) and visibility (visual distance at ground level). This should tell you when fog is predicted, and when it should lift.

I find it to be very accurate, and useful for all recreational weather planning.

http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/laun...te=NH&sta=KLCI

steve-on-mark · 08-23-2019, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Guy

Weather folks: I'm wondering if there's a way to predict if and where portions of the lake will be fogged-in on a fall morning.
The problem - I'm considering commuting to work a few mornings in September by boat from Bear Island. I did this last year too - one morning was fine but the next I had to wait almost 2 hours for the fog to lift so I could head to the marina. I rely on visual navigation - I don't own a special GPS for the lake - so being able to see where I'm going matters.

I commute regularly between Mark and Glendale and that early fog can be brutal. Some mornings it's clear between Mark and Bear, but when I come around Mink I can barely see the front of the boat! I have GPS on the pontoon, but not on the Chaparral. I downloaded an app to my phone called Fly to Map...it's a chart plotter. On a clear day, I turned it on and took a straight course to Glendale. The chart plotter makes a track which can be saved, then called up when it's needed. Keep the icon on the track, and it'll get you where you need to go, even through the thickest fog!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

ApS · 08-24-2019, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDoug

I use Raymarine gps and radar. My iphone Google Maps app also works ok as backup gps

While I don't own a kayak, curiosity drove me to Google—where I found this statement:

Quote:

A decade or so ago, my local club did a test of various radar reflection strategies (including one commercial reflector on the market at the time) with the local Coast Guard. The other makeshift things we tried were wrapping a paddler in a Mylar blanket, covering a helmet with aluminum foil and one guy actually wore a steel colander on his head. It was on a windy, rough day and the bottom line is that even though they could see us visually, nothing made us visible to radar. According to the radar operator, we never looked any bigger than a sea gull on the water and couldn't be readily distinguished from the surface noise. If he hadn't known where we were, he never would have given what he saw a second thought. This was at close range, so at a distance our visibility would have been even worse.

MDoug · 08-24-2019, 01:14 PM

My Raymarine radar has alerted me twice to fishermen in front of me in the fog.

Slickcraft · 08-27-2019, 11:00 AM

5:30 am today dew point 52 and air temp 53 at shore of Welch. Moderately thick fog over the lake. At 6 am light 2 to 4 mph breeze. 6:15 am fog gone.

08-23-2019, 12:15 PM	#1
Bear Guy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: FL, Bear Is. Posts: 183 Thanks: 45 Thanked 69 Times in 40 Posts	Predicting autumn morning fog Weather folks: I'm wondering if there's a way to predict if and where portions of the lake will be fogged-in on a fall morning. The problem - I'm considering commuting to work a few mornings in September by boat from Bear Island. I did this last year too - one morning was fine but the next I had to wait almost 2 hours for the fog to lift so I could head to the marina. I rely on visual navigation - I don't own a special GPS for the lake - so being able to see where I'm going matters.

08-23-2019, 12:29 PM	#2
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,597 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	Watch dewpoint temperatures Watch dewpoint temperatures vs air temperatures. The closer those two are, there is a likelihood of fog, especially with calm winds. One point: using a GPS device to navigate in fog may keep you from hitting an island, a shoal area, e.t.c., but won't keep you from hitting another vessel doing the same thing! Dave __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

08-23-2019, 01:24 PM	#3
MDoug Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 342 Thanks: 116 Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts	Fog I use Raymarine gps and radar. My iphone Google Maps app also works ok as backup gps

08-23-2019, 03:27 PM	#5
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,597 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	Sound signal Per the NH Boating Guide, page 37 (I think), states that in reduced visibility, a powerboat should sound a prolonged blast at intervals not to exceed 2 minutes. Dave Attached Images __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

08-24-2019, 01:14 PM	#9
MDoug Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 342 Thanks: 116 Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts	Fog and Radar My Raymarine radar has alerted me twice to fishermen in front of me in the fog.

08-23-2019, 02:34 PM	#4
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,296 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,081 Times in 953 Posts	I agree with UP. A cold calm morning in the fall usually does it. Even a mild breeze like 3 or 4 mph will clear the fog. Dead calm and cold then you will have a long wait for it to clear. Several mornings each fall we go from Welch to Glendale in fog via GPS. We go slow both of us looking and listening for that other boat. Yes when following a GPS route in fog, the other boat is the real concern.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to upthesaukee For This Useful Post:
Slickcraft (08-23-2019), trfour (10-16-2019)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Riviera For This Useful Post:
Bear Guy (08-24-2019), Descant (08-23-2019)

08-27-2019, 11:00 AM	#10
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,296 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,081 Times in 953 Posts	5:30 am today dew point 52 and air temp 53 at shore of Welch. Moderately thick fog over the lake. At 6 am light 2 to 4 mph breeze. 6:15 am fog gone.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
trfour (10-16-2019), upthesaukee (08-27-2019)