MOTHER NATURES' WEATHER

In the Bible, (Matthew XVI: 2-3,) Jesus said, “When in evening, ye say, it will be fair weather: For the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.” Weather lore has been around since people needed to predict the weather and plan their activities.

Although Captain Mark has been out on the water in one of his boats with temperatures in the mid-high teens and snowing, but, since we are all into this for fun and safety, should the temperature go below 50 degrees the trip won't run.  Captain Mark recommends 60 degrees or higher with bright sunshine for the best of times.  

No matter what the temperature, please bring a windbreaker and light jacket as the temperature on the water is approximately 10 degrees cooler than in Beaufort. Please click Checklist for your Cruise for more on what to bring.

Weather:  CLICK HERE, and click the graph below.

Weather for the Cape Lookout Bight, CLICK HERE.

National Weather Service Marine Forecast  (this site posts Small Craft Advisories)
Scroll down to the bottom and locate: "S of Cape Lookout to N of Surf City NC out 20 nm"

Should Small Craft Advisories be posted for the area in which your tour is planned, then:
1. Your cruise may be moved to another area
2. Your cruise time of departure may be altered or day changed
3. Your cruise may be canceled with a full refund.

A Small Craft Advisory is defined as wind speeds of 25 to 33 knots and/or seas of 6 feet or greater are expected to produce hazardous wave conditions.

If there appears to be "weather" coming in, Captain Mark will be in contact with you the night prior to your departure and check-in with you the morning of should there be any questions.  If you don't hear from the Captain, he looks forward to greeting you at the time and dock which was decided upon.  Welcome Aboard!

For the Junior Ranger in your family...Why? 
The ocean looks blue because red, orange and yellow (long wavelength light) are absorbed more strongly by water than is blue (short wavelength light). So when white light from the sun enters the ocean, it is mostly the blue that gets returned. Same reason the sky is blue as gases and particles in Earth's atmosphere scatter sunlight in all directions. Blue light is scattered more than other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves. This is why we see a blue sky most of the time.

Related Weather Websites

• Weather Forecasting Through the Ages (Earth Observatory at NASA) - This article, by Steve Graham, Claire Parkinson, and Mous Chahine discusses the history of predicting weather.
• Weather Proverbs. Fact or Fiction? (Nick Walker, the Weather Dude) - This website discusses weather proverbs that, under the right circumstances, hold up to science.
• Curiosities (University of Wisconsin, Madison) - What determines the colors of the sky at sunrise and sunset?
• Red Sky in Morning (NOAA Earth Systems Research Laboratory) - Looks at the science behind the saying.
• Scientific Validity (Scientific American) - Joe Sienkiewicz, chief of the Ocean Applications Branch and a science and operations officer with the NOAA/NWS Ocean Prediction Center, explains the scientific validity of the saying.