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2018 Gulf Stream Analysis, Two Weeks Out

June 1, 2018

By Frank Bohlen

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As May turns to June, the Gulf Stream watch intensifies and navigators study the structure and flow of the Stream for winning clues. By W. Frank Bohlen

With 14 days until the start of the 2018 Newport Bermuda Race, navigators are watching a deep meander in the Gulf Stream, turning towards Bermuda, that promises sailors a fast ride for 70 nautical miles. After that, however, a series of clockwise and counter-clockwise rotating features add complexity to the routing choice.

Daily composite image of sea surface temperatures May 25 2018
A sharp meander is a notable feature of the Gulf Stream near the rhumbline to Bermuda in this daily composite image of sea surface temperatures, May 25, 2018.

Cloud cover has limited the views of the Stream for much of the spring, making altimetry-based models from NOAA more valuable, such as this one, which suggests potential adverse currents in more than one location once across the Stream. In particular, near the rhumbline and not far from Bermuda, a clockwise-rotating feature may be flowing at close to 3 knots towards the northwest.

satellite altimetry-derived surface currents May 27 2018
View of NW Atlantic satellite altimetry-derived surface currents, May 27, 2018 (black line is rhumbline to Bermuda).

For much more detail, read the full text of Analysis #2 and study several views of the Stream. Both Analysis #1 and #2 are located on the Gulf Stream Tutorials page, where you can also find an archive of pieces written on the Stream from 2002-2016.

 

 

 

 

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