The following Web Links will aid you in having more successful sailing and boating experiences.
NOAA-Local Anderson If you are not familiar with this site, we recommend that you play with all the tabs and get to know how to really use this site. For instance, scroll down below the Current Conditions Bar to the Radar & Satellite Bar and click on the radar image. This will give you the current (within 30+ minutes) radar picture of rain/thunderstorms, etc. from the Greer Radar. This is a static picture for a set time, which you will see at the top right side of radar image. Now the fun part, you want to click on the scroll part to see which way the storms are heading. This is probably the most important immediate weather prediction feature you can find.
Another area to go to is the Hourly Weather Graph under the Additional Forecasts & Information Bar. This will give you a two day forecast in a graph format that is easy to read and can be fairly accurate at certain times of the year - not during summer thunderstorm times. Make sure you check all the categories to the left, especially the "surface winds."
You will not prevent that stray thunderboomer from catching you unawares, but you will improve your chances of avoiding them and keeping your trips on the water safer.
NOAA - Anderson Airport This gives you an hourly history of the winds at the Anderson Airport. This can be used as a general predictor of what might be happening on Lake Hartwell. It will show you if the winds are building or dropping. You can see the surface wind's intensity, gusts, temperatures, pressure changes, and direction.
Weather Underground Another way of looking at weather forecasts. It is a bit too commercial for me, but it works. These are good tools to use to make your sailing and boating more enjoyable, and safer.
