Rowing in Deep Cove is most affected by wind. Rain, while unpleasant, is only a problem if it is so heavy that the shells fill with water or visibility is badly degraded. Fog can occur at any time of the year, but it is less common during the summer. Thunderstorms occur infrequently.

Look at the Webcam page for a view of current conditions in Deep Cove.

Wind

During fair weather, the wind will blow up Indian Arm during the day (inflow) and down the arm at night (outflow). The winds will be calm at dawn and dusk giving the best rowing conditions. These winds are driven by the diurnal heating and cooling of land behind the coast. The strength of these winds increase when there is no cloud cover, because the sun can more effectively heat the land during the day and heat can freely radiate out into space at night.

Indian Arm, like other coastal inlets, can experience strong outflow winds that arise quickly with little or no warning. The resulting large whitecaps can swamp rowing shells. The only option rowers have is to seek shelter (e.g. behind an island, in a cove) or get off the water as soon as possible. The possibility of these winds is one of the reasons why the club requires that rowers be accompanied by a coach in a safety boat.

Strong frontal weather often generates strong winds. If the winds are out of the southeast, they will blow into Deep Cove from the Jug Island direction or slightly north of Jug Island. These same winds will blow out of the hills east of Bedwell Bay, past Racoon Island and up Indian Arm. If the winds are out of the northwest, strong winds will blow from North Vancouver, outwards from Deep Cove towards the area between Racoon Island and Jug Island. Strong inflow will pull these winds up Indian Arm.

South of Hamber Island, Boulder Island and Grey Rocks, strong southeast winds will blow out of the park east of Boulder Island and the Port Moody channel. Strong northwest winds will blow out of Dollarton and Cates Park.

Windy.com provides computer-generated wind forecasts. Its forecasts are pretty accurate over open flat terrain, but less so when the terrain is mountainous. Even so, it provides useful insight into conditions in Indian Arm. With some experience at comparing the forecast with actual wind conditions in the arm, you can develop moderate confidence at predicting whether and where rowing will be possible and what precautions to consider. If you click at a location on the following image, the forecast wind speed will be displayed.

Precipitation

While rain does not prevent rowing, you can better prepare for rowing if you have some idea of when and how much precipitation will occur. The strength of precipitation may also indicate whether thunderstorms are forming in the area.

Windy.com provides weather radar that shows precipitation. Precipitation intensifies from blue through red. You can zoom and pan the map using your device’s standard mechanisms.

General Forecast

Environment Canada provides a general weather forecast for Deep Cove. A synopsis of current and forecast conditions is shown below. If you click or tap on the image, you will be taken to a detailed forecast. You can choose to see a 7 day forecast, hourly forecast, air quality, lightning and other information.