Detroit Lake

[sixpoint]

Why is it so hard to correctly predict the wind at Detroit Lake? I don't know how many times I've made the trip there to fish only to be blown off. Yesterday with east winds predicted at 7 with gusts to 14, I was barely able to get my boat loaded on the trailer fighting 30+ mile an hour sustained wind. The boat take out was a real rodeo for everyone! I just wish I could rely on wind forecasts before I make the 87 mile trip there to fish.

[TheRadarGuy]

@sixpoint Which model are you using? If you find one is not very effective for you, you can try one of the other ones Windy offers. In the US, users can change between ECMWF, GFS, ICON, NAM and HRRR.

[idefix37]

@sixpoint
Detroit Lake is surrounded by high mountains. Wind forecasting is therefore not easy. Yesterday, a personal weather station at the lake shore indicated an average wind of 4 knots (4.5 mph) but gusts of 17 knots (20 mph). It is certainly difficult for weather models to predict such terrain-dependent conditions.

Shown on web browser version

These gusty conditions were displayed almost everyday in the afternoon during last week at this PWS.
Another weather station on western end of the lake does not seem to show these gusty conditions.