Low pressure approaching

Forecast for Davis Strait, made 9-3-2008 at 19 UTC.

*** Gale force winds possible on Thursday 9-4 ***

Synopsis...A low pressure system has developed and will be moving into the region from the Hudson Strait on Thursday 9-4. This will bring with it rain and possibly gale force winds. Expect the unsettled conditions with periods of rain and high winds to remain through Saturday.

Thursday...Increasing clouds and winds, with rain likely late. South to easterly winds should increase to over 20 knots by 16 UTC, possibly reaching gale strength at times thereafter, especially in the southern waters. Expect the strongest winds to be located southeast of the Davis Strait near the Greenland coast, where sustained winds may be 35-40 knots. Winds elsewhere should be sustained at 15-30 knots with higher gusts, and the weakest winds will be north of the Davis Strait. See the attached map for a snapshot of the forecast winds at 22 UTC. Significant wave heights could reach 5 meters in the area of strongest winds, with about 1.5-2 meters elsewhere.

Friday...Wind, rain, and rough seas are expected to hang around. A secondary winds maximum may develop along the western Davis Strait near Baffin Island to northerly (out of the north) 25+ knots sustained with higher gusts as the low pressure passes by.

Outlook...After the low pressure passes by, there will be a period of significant northerly winds late Friday and through the day Saturday. Conditions currently are expected to improve Sunday.