Ready4Launch
Contributor
After a tropical storm or hurricane, does it take much time for the water to clear up? Two days? More? Other effects like strong currents that stick around for 4 / 5 days?
After a storm there...
- Thread starter Ready4Launch
- Start date
Please register or login
It all depends on the strength of the storm, the directness of the hit, and how long the storm hangs around.
OP
Ready4Launch
Contributor
Like my dad always used to say, "How long is a piece of string?"
Wave action from a near miss by a tropical storm can stir up particulates in the water and they can be gone the next day. A direct hit like was dealt the island by Wilma can have much more lasting effects; Wilma was in 2005 and its effects can still be seen. It's a continuum.
Again, there are too many other variables, including some named by ggunn all but one of which you glossed over with "moderate" which in itself doesn't mean much. Every storm is different.
I can't tell where you're from, but surely there are analogous questions that would help you see this. How long does snow cause problems after a major blizzard? How long does it take a stump to rot? How long is a medium-length piece of string? How long does it take to drive across the country (in what? what does "across" mean? are we racing against time to save humanity or do we want to see the Grand Canyon?)?
I have a feeling there's another question underlying the one you asked that's of more direct relevance to you personally.
Edit: I've re-read the initial post and upon reflection I believe that an honest and reasonable answer would be "yes".
Re-edit: I think those who would answer "no" have some strong arguments to bolster their positions and it would be unfair for me to insist they are entirely wrong. They are, however, at least mostly wrong. Given the wording of the initial post I maintain that "yes" is the most correct answer.
Last edited:
OP
Ready4Launch
Contributor
No, there's really no underlying question. I'm not looking for the most precise answer that can be had that requires consideration of all variables. What's the weather going to be in October? "Well, that's going to depen..." Yeah, of course it's going to depend on a bunch of things, but one can find a table of historical averages to get an idea. I mean, if there's a large storm that produces a fair amount of run-off from the streets to the ocean in Ventura, CA, then people who don't wish to surf in the effluent will probably tell you that it's about 3 days for the surf zone to clear up. Maybe +/- 1.
Now, there's no established table that one could find on the internet for such a thing like my question, but I imagine that people generally know when it's good to go back to being in the water. I could guess that it would be about 2-3 days for waters around Cozumel to settle down, clear out or whatever after a storm, but I ask because I'm not familiar with how the currents go, how it goes from deep to shallow, or familiar with anything about the area. Maybe there are strong currents that clear it out fast, which allows for great visibility at sites that aren't drift areas. I don't know.
So, I take your answer to mean, "Yes, it does take considerable amount of time for the water to clear up." Thank you - genuinely.
- Messages
- 5,313
- Reaction score
- 7,363
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
No would be more accurate on certain days.
robint
Contributor
I think the easiest way to say it is ..... not long....unless...
Cozumel does NOT have the runoff issue that many destinations have after a rain storm. So the particulate in the water is different. Cozumel can get the sand stirred up, for sure, but that's about it. And that can settle down pretty fast. Other destinations like Roatan for instance, have horrible runnoff so after a rainstorm the water will look like milk for days.
Cozumel does NOT have the runoff issue that many destinations have after a rain storm. So the particulate in the water is different. Cozumel can get the sand stirred up, for sure, but that's about it. And that can settle down pretty fast. Other destinations like Roatan for instance, have horrible runnoff so after a rainstorm the water will look like milk for days.
Similar threads
