Winds picking up a bit

Synopsis....High pressure is in control of the area and will remain so over the next couple days. However as low pressure systems move well south of the area, the pressure gradient will be increasing at times, increasing the northerly winds. Gale force winds are possible in all regions of the Davis Strait on Monday, but most likely in the eastern Strait.

Monday....Increasing winds. Sustained winds will begin to reach 30 knots in the eastern strait around 00 UTC, and will spread through the whole strait by 12 UTC. Strongest winds will be in the eastern strait, possibly reaching 35-40 knots with higher gusts near the Greenland coast around 18 UTC. The roughest seas will be just south of the central Davis Strait with significant wave heights of 4-6 meters beginning around 08 UTC and spreading to all regions of the Strait.

Tuesday...Northerly winds of 30 knots are expected to continue in all regions.

Lowest winds today

Synopsis...Calm weather today as a high pressure is moving into the region. Winds will be on the increase periodically as low pressures well south of the area will be increasing the pressure gradient as they go by.

The rest of today...Mostly cloudy, with northerly winds of 10-15 knots. Winds will begin to increase to 20 knots in the eastern Strait late. Continued cold with temperatures near 0 degrees Celsius.

Sunday....Partly cloudy and breezy. Sustained northerly winds increasing to 20-25 knots, strongest in the eastern Strait. Temperatures remaining cold.

Outlook...There may be gale force winds in the eastern strait beginning Monday 00 UTC.

Gale warning in eastern Davis Strait

Synopsis....a gale warning is currently in effect for the eastern Davis Strait (see the area circled red on yesterday's forecast labeled 'Gale force winds expected'). Winds will peak today around 13 UTC, then gradually die down. There will be a break in the winds for about a 12 hour period overnight tonight. Then winds (not as strong as today) will be picking up throughout the day Saturday lasting into Sunday.

*** Gale warning in the eastern Davis Strait for today ***
Rest of today....Windy, especially in the eastern Davis Strait with light rain or snow showers. Strongest winds in the eastern strait, where winds will be sustained at 35 knots from the south with the strongest winds around 13 UTC. Winds will diminish to about 20 knots by 00 UTC. Weakest winds will be in the western strait near Baffin Island, where winds will be about 15 knots. There should be a period where the winds drop to around 10 knots or less in all regions of the strait from about 00 UTC tonight (Oct 6) to 12 UTC Saturday (Oct. 6).

Saturday...a strengthening low pressure well south of the region will still manage to kick up winds again and a chance of snow showers as well. Northerly winds will be increasing in all regions of the Davis Strait to about 25 knots around 18 UTC.

Outlook...it may take the better part of the day before winds of around 25 knots diminish. High pressure will slowly be building in, so there is hope in sight for some calm weather.

Forecast Update

Update....
A low pressure in the Foxe Basin is beginning to spread clouds and increase winds in the area. Winds are expected to reach Gale force later today (by 00 UTC Oct. 5), with strongest winds in the eastern Davis Strait.

Rest of today....Cloudy with snow developing. Southeasterly winds increasing to 30 knots (sustained) by 00 UTC Oct 5.

Friday...Snow, possibly changing to or mixing with rain, and windy. Sustained southerly winds of 35-40 knots possible from 00 UTC - 20 UTC, strongest in the eastern Davis Strait. Significant wave heights of 6-7 meters possible during this time, also greatest in the eastern strait.

Outlook....Winds should die down a bit Oct 6. Clouds and precipitation could hang around through Oct. 7. High pressure may finally build in afterwards.

Gale Warning South of Davis Strait Oct 4,5

Synopsis:
A low pressure will be moving up Hudson Bay towards Baffin Island Thursday and Friday. Winds will be shifting to a southeasterly (from the southeast) direction and increasing in strength. They will reach Gale strength in the "Brevoort" region circled in red on the map on Thursday, lasting through Friday.

Thursday....Southeasterly winds increasing everywhere. Winds will be strongest south of the Davis Strait where Gale Warnings are in place (the red circled region on the map). Winds there will be sustained at around 35 knots. Winds in the Davis Strait will be sustained at up to 20 knots at times. Mostly cloudy skies with rain or snow possible late. Temperatures near 0 degrees C.

Friday....a weak low pressure may develop near the mouth of the Hudson Strait. This will increase the southerly winds in the east Brevoort region, and increase the northerly winds in the west Brevoort region. Strongest winds expected in the east Brevoort region with sustained winds up to 40 knots. Southeasterly winds increasing to 25-30 knots in the Davis Strait. Significant wave heights of 4-6 meters expected in the Davis Strait. Snow likely everywhere, then possibly changing to rain or mixing with rain.

Almanac for Nuuk:
Day High(F)/Low(F)/Highest sustained wind speed (knots)/Highest wind gust (knots)/weather
Oct. 1 42/30/32/60
Oct. 2 39/32/46 /67/rain,snow
Oct. 3 33/32/15/-/rain,snow

Low pressure moving away from region

Picture: Weather map for the area today.
Wind directions are in Red, Low pressure and it's forecast path in black.

Synopsis:
A strong low pressure moved over the Davis Strait last night, with an estimated minimum central sea level pressure of 974 mb. This brought rain, snow, and strong winds to Nuuk as well, with reports of winds gusting up to 78 mph (67 knots). The low pressure is now exiting the region, but strong winds will persist over the waters today, gradually diminishing from west to east Wednesday.

The rest of today... Gale warnings are in place for all waters. Winds are sustained at 30-40 knots with higher gusts, especially over the West Davis Strait and near the mouth of the Hudson Strait. Significant wave heights of 6-8 meters expected, everywhere, with the roughest seas at the mouth of the Hudson Strait. Temperatures cold, with scattered light snow showers likely, possibly mixed with rain in Nuuk.

Wednesday...Winds will be diminishing from west to east, with winds dropping below a sustained wind speed of 20 knots on the west Davis Strait by around 12 UTC. Winds in the waters around Nuuk are expected to be sustained at 35 knots with higher gusts from 00 UTC to 09 UTC, then gradually diminishing but remaining above 20 knots the rest of the day.

Outlook: A new, weaker, system will be approaching on Thursday. Winds should shift to southerly on Thursday ahead of this system and clouds will be on the increase. Will monitor this and update in the next forecast post. At this time the low does not appear to be a major event.

Map of areas to expect high winds

Hopefully you can see the map I attached. I circled 3 areas in red, labeled (1), (2), and (3). Those are the areas that will see the strongest winds and roughest seas.

(1) Southerly winds ahead of the low pressure system will pick up here in the eastern Davis Strait around 21 UTC today (Oct. 1) and will last for about 12 hours. Sustained winds will be up to 35 knots with higher gusts. Significant wave heights will be 5-6 meters. Also expect the most precipitation here during this time, probably in the form of snow.

(2) Westerly winds sustained at 40 knots out of the Hudson Strait will be picking up at about 00 UTC Oct. 2 and lasting until 00 UTC Oct. 3. Gale warnings are in place here. Significant wave heights of 5-6 meters expected.

(3) Northerly winds sustained at 30-35 knots with higher gusts on the back side of the low pressure will pick up in the west Davis Strait last, probably around 15 UTC on Oct. 2. Signifcant wave heights of 6-8 meters expected. Winds will gradually diminish Oct. 3, dropping to below 20 knots around 12 UTC Oct. 3. Expect scattered light snow showers as here during this time as well.