7/3 Elwha River update

Elwha River, 7/1/15 (Tom Roorda)

Elwha nearshore 1 July 2015.
Anne Schaffer of Coastal Watershed Institute writes: "The delta hasn't changed a whole lot over the last few weeks-the river is very quiet now. The Elwha normally is a bimodal system with a fall/winter peak river flow associated with winter storms, and another in full summer associated with snow melt. This year summer flow is around 20% of the hundred year average, resulting in a lower river that is startlingly low and clear instead of the normal full bank and chalk thick from snow melt. We're all considering what this means in the nearshore-as complex as ever. The strong winds and brilliant sunshine along the central Strait are promoting heavy upwelling, cold water, and associated plankton blooms that in turn are supporting the food depended on by forage fish that are abundantly spawning and migrating along the Elwha nearshore right now. The northwest swell (8 feet) is popular too. Thanks to Tom Roorda for continuing to capture this evolving place and time."

Now, your 4th of July weekend weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PDT THU JUL 2 2015
FRI
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING W TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
FRI NIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT IN THE EVENING...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG.
SAT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SUN
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
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