The West Island Weather Station KA1WBH

The West Island Weather Station KA1WBH Rated The Mariner's Choice for Weather and Webcams in Buzzards Bay since 1992 There's plenty of storm action here in Southeastern MA.

The West Island Weather Station near the Cape Cod Canal, in Buzzards Bay is located on West Island in the seaport town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. We have the best live streaming webcams in Southern New England bringing spectacular views with live sea conditions in Buzzards Bay. Advanced weather gear with real-time data available to you 24/7 either on-line or through our mobile apps. SkyWarn Certified by The National Weather Service.

PICTURE PERFECT.... then everything was gone "People think that lighthouse keepers are heroes for some particular rea...
09/20/2026

PICTURE PERFECT.... then everything was gone
"People think that lighthouse keepers are heroes for some particular reason. I'm no hero. I dare say that you people who have to live on the mainland, in New Bedford, and every day of your lives you have to dodge these speeding automobiles and whizzing trolley cars, it seems to me that you run more risks of life and limb probably in ten minutes than I do in 10 years." Captain Arthur Small - keeper of The Palmer's Island Light, in a 1935 interview.
In his spare time, Capt. Small was a noted marine artist, whose paintings were much sought after by collectors. Some of his paintings were on display at the Galley Restaurant located across the river at Fairhaven Shipyard.
His two sons were rowed across by Mom to Fairhaven Shipyard to get to Fairhaven High School.
Just three years later, the island was reduced to rubble in the 1938 Hurricane. Captain Small's wife, Mabel, lost her life trying to rescue him during the gale and tidal surge. The boys were likely still on the mainland when the storm hit. The only structure that remained intact was the lighthouse in which Capt. Small survived.
Link of interest: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10231128066496897&set=a.1030636538031
A memorial plaque is at the Fairhaven side of the Hurricane Barrier entrance. Pre-1938 Hurricane (photo insert left).
Link to A WIND TO SHAKE THE WORLD - video version of the book:
https://youtu.be/JycDf5s5wB0?si=D3ylUWKGQXexFFZ4
Compiled with graphics by MLBaron

SEASONAL SPLIT SCREEN Our Harborcam shot of New Bedford Harbor dramatically illustrated the transition from summer to ...
09/19/2026

SEASONAL SPLIT SCREEN
Our Harborcam shot of New Bedford Harbor dramatically illustrated the transition from summer to fall on September 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM.
A cooler air mass moved through, creating this fantastic shot with perfect timing as we end the Summer of 2026 and the autumnal equinox arrives in a few days. Some storm action is moving in soon; check westislandweather.com for updates.
The first day of fall in 2026 is Tuesday, September 22, at 5:05 p.m.
Harborcam for westislandweather.com

F/V DIRECTION inside New Bedford Harbor, later headed out to sea - September 18, 2026, at 7:55 AM.Harborcam for westisla...
09/18/2026

F/V DIRECTION inside New Bedford Harbor, later headed out to sea - September 18, 2026, at 7:55 AM.
Harborcam for westislandweather.com

HIP TOW."Interesting- it was reported that the crew abandoned ship. Also saw it stated she had a fire. This pic proves s...
09/17/2026

HIP TOW.
"Interesting- it was reported that the crew abandoned ship. Also saw it stated she had a fire. This pic proves she didn’t sink."Steve Kennedy Fine Arts
Tug CAMDYN brought the F/V HADLEY RUTH to a Fairhaven dock on September 17, 2026, at 7:45 AM, in a hip tow configuration.
Harborcam for westislandweather.com

CIRCA 1929 VINTAGE FISHING BOAT PRINT DISCOVERED "This worn and torn print, stored for decades in a photo junk pile, w...
09/14/2026

CIRCA 1929 VINTAGE FISHING BOAT PRINT DISCOVERED
"This worn and torn print, stored for decades in a photo junk pile, was destined for the trash can. Then I took a second look." MLBaron
Albert Cook Church was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1880, the son of a tugboat captain. His hobby of photography developed into a vocation as a result of his early exposure to the sea and New Bedford harbor.
Source: https://www.whalingmuseum.org/.../hig.../manuscripts/mss-33/
For Albert Cook Church, the background was just as important to frame his classic fishing vessel photos inside New Bedford Harbor. This recently discovered F/V SEA ROVER print is probably one of the most thought-out photos I've seen in the Church series of 1920's boats he took in the harbor. This may have been taken from Union Wharf in Fairhaven.
After a closer look, the man at the wheelhouse window - likely the Captain is wearing a white shirt and tie. It appears a light was placed inside, overhead, to illuminate the man nicely. A closer look also showed a crewmember to the right of the wheelhouse behind the rigging.
The angle of the starboard side with Palmer's Island in the background (lower right) revealed the keeper's home and lighthouse. All the buildings would be washed away in the 1938 Hurricane, some 10 years later, except for the light.
This amazing photo also captured the vessel with modern gear at the time, along with a motor and sail. The markings below the wheelhouse indicate Sea Rover, New Bedford, Mass. Curiously, the name appears twice at the bow; perhaps the larger letters were added for better visibility in the photo.
This rare century-old print had the caption SEA ROVER, written by hand in ink on the bottom, with the pencil markings still visible before pen and ink were applied. A collection of more Albert Cook Church photos, at this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nbwm/albums/72157607559720337
Compiled by MLBaron Historic Archives

NOTHING TO SEA HERE For the first time since 1941, there has not been a single hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean throug...
09/13/2026

NOTHING TO SEA HERE
For the first time since 1941, there has not been a single hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean through September 12th.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2581150659060442
*ML's Note: There's a couple of contributing factors that fizzled out The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season (so far).
El Niño: A strong El Niño event has created high wind shear and hostile conditions for storm strengthening.
Saharan Dust: Plumes of dry air and dust from Africa have moved across the Atlantic and blocked tropical development.
File Photo: Hurricane Maria's remnants glided across the sky over Hoppy's Landing, September 25, 2017.
MLBaron File Photo for westislandweather.com

1939 LIGHTSHIP CHART - A QUIET DUTY UNTIL ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE "I’ve heard it said of lightship duty: “You’re either ...
09/13/2026

1939 LIGHTSHIP CHART - A QUIET DUTY UNTIL ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE
"I’ve heard it said of lightship duty: “You’re either bored to death or scared to death.” Steve Kennedy
This vintage nautical chart depicted lightships assigned to various locations around Buzzards Bay in 1939. *ML's Note: It is doubtful this would have been published after WWII broke out in 1941. Lightships were an important aid to navigation, with crews manning the lights 24/7.
"I had not seen this before. As well as Coasties from the Vineyard Lightship, we also had seamen from the Hen and Chickens who would stay with us when storm-bound. Though names escape me now, I loved them all as uncles, and my father and mother so enjoyed having them when at night after supper sea stories from the lightship men would be told -- and new or old stories, repeated or not, we would enjoy every word, every laugh, even tears. Hard duty but made great men of them. The duty is now gone; their memory lives on for me and always will." Seamond Roberts
Crews had to withstand long hours and exposure to the worst conditions the sea could toss at them. The ships and men were to remain at their posts at all times, even during hurricanes, until properly relieved.
Two tragedies come to light just ten years apart when this chart was printed. In January of 1934, the SS WASHINGTON sideswiped the NANTUCKET, but the vessel somehow survived, went in for repairs, and returned to service.
Five months later, luck ran out for the fairly new 4-year-old 130-ft lightship. The RMS OLYMPIC, sister ship of TITANIC, rammed and sank the lightship. (illustration right) Seven crew members drowned with only four survivors. Ironically, this much-traveled route by ocean liners would have seen the RMS TITANIC traverse it 22 years prior, 50 miles off Nantucket.
The Hurricane of 1944 sank the VINEYARD SOUND lightship (lower left) off Cuttyhunk. Gusts of 135 MPH and huge waves pounded the ship. Divers discovered and theorized that a huge mushroom-shaped anchor at the bow broke loose, causing a huge gash in the hull, allowing the seawater to rush in. The ship quickly sank, and drowned all twelve crew members. An additional 350 sailors drowned at sea on Navy ships sunk in the storm. September 14, 1944.
Source: http://www.mwdc.org/Shipwrecks/vineyardsoundlightship.html
Working on a lightship was considered to be the most dangerous profession in the marine service.
*ML's Note: The ship with masts sheared off remains nearly on station, upright in about 80 feet of water to this day, as if in perpetual vigil.
Link of interest: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10231643527903110&set=pcb.10231643439900910
Painting (right) by Charles Mazoujian (right inset) USCG photos.
Compiled by MLBaron for westislandweather.com

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