Touring - Getting a Handle on Seasonal Variations in Wind Direction along the California Coast?

Does anyone know of good resources that chart (or contain other data) about the seasonal changes in wind direction along the Pacific Coast -- especially along the California Coast, but also Oregon and Washington?

During summer, in the afternoons, there is a high chance of strong winds coming out of the northwest (at least along much of the California Coast). But sometime during the fall, this changes significantly, and there is much less likelihood of these sorts of winds.

Sometime during the spring, it shifts back. And there are months during which it is inconsistent and hard to predict.

Where are some good, specific records, gathered over the years, that would help to get a handle on this?

Santa Ana Winds.

These strange, hot, dry winds from the east are interesting to experience. They have a strange atmosphere or feel about them; they're a bit spooky and foreboding. Here's an article from Caltech and JPL:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2004/82.cfm

noaa.gov (http://www.noaa.gov/)

You might try WeatherUnderground and look at the compiled data for a particular location. I seem to remember finding it under the trip planner section. NOAA.gov might also have some resources.

I've lived on the coast, the times the wind came from the south was if there was a storm from that direction otherwise 99% of the time it's from the north, I could be wrong and didn't notice the other times but that's my recollection.

I agree with Lee, but some years it just gets weird. My ride down the coast was during a summer of inverted winds, which seems to happen one or two times a decade.

I agree with Lee, but some years it just gets weird. My ride down the coast was during a summer of inverted winds, which seems to happen one or two times a decade.

Yep,

Summer is usually from some type of north unless the there are a series of storms rolling in. I've done two coast trips, one where the wind was flipping around constantly (WA and OR were getting pounded by odd summer storms) and another were it was 98% north.

Don't worry about Santa Anna's aka Chinooks unless you are crossing the coastal ranges on a -bad- day. If you get caught by these winds get off the road and find a nice sheltered parallel trail.

Oh, going south down the Grand Canyon connector during monsoon season is a bad idea.

Along the Washington coast in the fall and winter there is so much rain the wind won't bother you.

One sign it's not winter winds come out of the north, except when it is winter,
and then the Alaska air mass brings temperature down into the 20's.

Pineapple express brings plenty of rainfall from the Hawaiian region of the Pacific
Winter storms come down in inches per day but it's not frozen.

Pineapple express in 07, picking up a tropical cyclone and leading it north,
had gusts that Floridians would find familiar during hurricane season.