Tidal Currents layer is very wrong. Very dangerous.
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I'm a kayaker and I was excited to see the "Tidal Currents" layer. But when I plotted it for my area, I see that it's way off. For example, today the max flood under the Golden Gate bridge at 9:18am was 1.85 knots, according to NOAA, but the windy layer gives only 0.4 knots for 9am.
This is a dangerous discrepancy. Kayakers can get swept out with this egregious error.
I think it makes no sense to have this layer available if it isn't showing tidal currents as understood by the boating community. Please fix it or remove it. -
@Un-Known-4 Can you please provide an example of both predictions for the same location?
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Tidal data is computed from sea surface altimetry. This means that near coasts and in some straits, this layer is not precise enough to be the only source used for navigation. Indeed, tidal currents depend locally on the shape of the seabed and the coastline. In deep waters and with a straight coastline Tidal currents data is quite good, but not so much in shallow waters or in bays causing possible higher currents and counter-currents. Furthermore, the timing of floods and ebbs in the same places and for the same reasons cannot be really precise.
@Suty
This should be emphasized in the information provided with the tidal current data instead of overly general explanations. -
@idefix37 Are currents and tidal currents seperate values or is one calculated into the other?
Is there a grid of resolution like known from the weather models? -
@Caefix
Yes they are separate values
https://community.windy.com/topic/16531/currents-vs-tidal-currents?_=1716321208676 -
Maybe the values in the balloon are helpful?
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@Un-Known-4 , hi local knowledge is goldworthy when it comes to tidal currents sea drag and typical tide&wind waves-i see you use noaa webpage,and do that cause they compute the numbers, weather apps use model that doesnt scratch deep enough on microscale. nearby me, the karmsund (one of norways most traffickated shipping lanes )canal is a nefarious tidal current spot with speeds upto 5 knots,but its neglected on wx-apps due to macromodelling
i kayakk miself alot so take care ,and turn before its to late...
