Whale watching trips cancelled as big storm rolls over Monterey Bay

Stormy clouds have already begun to roll in over the Monterey Bay.

“We just hoped the weather would be good and we could come down here and see the ocean,” said tourist, Matt Scharfenberg.

A High Wind Warning is in effect until tomorrow morning, and Princess Monterey Whale Watch is already spreading the word that no one will be going out to sea.

“We’ll go out, either rain or shine, kind of like the post office. It’s the wind. That’s the big one that we like to watch here,” said Erica Wolf, Naturalist at Princess Monterey Whale Watch.

Wind speeds of at least 40 miles per hour, and gusts up to 65 miles per hour, are predicted to hit the Monterey County area over the next 24 hours. Wolf said this is nearly 15 miles per hour above what they consider safe for their boat, and creates potential for big waves.

“Of course, if it gets too big then boats aren’t going to be able to handle it, and there’s a possibility of that boat flipping, especially if you get sideways onto the waves,” said Wolf.

Buoys set up by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) help Wolf track wind speed and waves on the bay. Wolf said this gives her a better idea of when it is safe to take people out.

“If the winds die down, we might go out Sunday morning. If not, it might not be until Monday that we go out,” said Wolf.

Wolf said the storms have hit harder this year, which has forced them to cancel numerous trips throughout the winter season.

This is often a let down for tourists, but a safe choice, overall. “We’ll probably do 17 Mile Drive, or walk around Cannery Row. It depends on what the weather lets us do,” said tourists, Ed & Cindy Blombahl.