Lightstation Weather Reports

One of the most important tasks lightkeepers have is to observe and report local weather. Starting at 4:30am, we report continuously every three hours until 10:30pm (DST). Our data is accessible here:

Lightstation Weather Reports

All stations provide local marine weather for mariners.

At Nootka, we also provide supplementary weather reports for aviators (cloud levels and density, and relative humidity.)  In addition, we do climate observations: maximum and minimum temperatures, and the amount of rainfall/snowfall, and enter it into Environment Canada's cooperative/volunteer climate network weather collection project -- COOLTAP. This helps to create long range forecasts.

Perched on the edge of the ocean, we're not only a beacon for mariners, we provide much needed current information.

Pachena Point, late December

On Coming to Nootka

At last, I'm back working as a relief lightkeeper, this time at Nootka. I was going to write a blog to describe the geographic area and provide some background (this is a hotspot for Canadian history); however, a friend sent this one to me. It's quite well written, so I'm just going to post it, thank Heike, and thank the sailors who took the time to write it.

http://www.seabc.com/friendlycove.htm

I arrived on Thursday. The weather was gorgeous…sunshine, warmth, no wind…needless to say, the helicopter ride from Victoria was picture perfect. Just me and the pilot cruising quietly up the coast.

Riding shotgun is awesome because you get such great views.

Even the waves were perfect!

We stopped in at Carmanah Lighthouse to drop off some mail. The sun was shining directly behind the light here.

Later, we put down at Tofino airport to refuel.

Anyone who's ever hiked or kayaked the West Coast likely knows Ucluelet. Here's a photo coming into town from the south. Like other communities on this rugged coast, Ucluelet is built on the ancestral territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Peoples. They lived "all along the mountains and the sea" which is what Nuu-chah-nulth means. 

Here's our first sighting of Friendly Cove and Nootka Lightstation.

Some Mowachaht/Muchalaht folks are sharing this beautiful space with us. The Williams family is still living on the beach behind the lightstation, where the Yuquot village once stood.

The last two days, it's been raining off and on, light and heavy, pretty much nonstop. Today is a perfect day for listening to that crazy Icelandic band, Sigur Ross…knitting, collecting thoughts, sea-gazing, and drinking tea. I'm so glad to be back.