Recognizing an approaching storm
Unwary boaters are too often taken by surprise by fast storms that can present a danger. According to recent Coast Guard accident data, nearly 3 percent of all recreational boating accidents are directly related to severe weather conditions that can quickly overwhelm smaller craft.
No one wants to end up a statistic. The risks of swamping, capsizing, falling overboard or hitting a floating object all increase in stormy weather. Here are some tips on how to spot bad weather on the horizon and prevent accidents when the water gets rough.
10 Tips on How to Prevent Weather-related Incidents
1 Plan to err on the side of caution. Careful attention to marine weather forecasts and staying alert to sudden changes can help keep both good times and safety at a maximum.
2 Keep in mind that some thunderstorms create microbursts, intense downdrafts over an area a half-mile to 3 miles wide capable of producing wind gusts from 60 mph to more than 100 mph.
3 Track the extended five-day forecast, either on local AM/FM radio or television, or on Internet weather sites like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Forecast and information Web site at www.weather.gov/om/marine/home.htm.
4 At marinas, check for small craft advisories, storm warnings and other alerts that warn boaters of higher wind and waves, either imminent or expected within the next 24 hours.
5 VHF-FM weather radios or VHF transceivers with built-in NOAA weather radio channels are readily available at most retail outlets, with high-frequency single-sideband transceivers as a backup for those ranging farther out on the water.
6 For larger recreational boats, check your barometer every two to three hours. A rise in barometric pressure signals fair weather. A rapid drop means a fast-approaching storm.
7 Scan the horizon to the west and southwest for lightning flashes and other signs bad weather is coming. Most fronts typically move in from the west or southwest.
8 Being able to recognize storm cloud patterns is also a useful skill. A “lowering ceiling” – flat clouds getting lower and thicker – means a storm front is approaching.
9 A hot and humid day frequently means thunderstorms are approaching as radiant heat from the land picks up moisture from the water. Puffy, vertical clouds can grow into thunderheads resulting in a violent squall, accompanied by a sudden drop in temperature, sharp winds, suddenly heavier seas and an increased risk of microbursts. A reliable indicator of potential severity is the presence of a horizontal proturbance from the top of a towering cumulus, called an anvil.
10 The most important equipment on board is a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for all passengers.
Fast Fact
Between 1997 and 2007, the number of weather-related recreational boating accidents plummeted from 419 to 148, and from 5.2 percent to 2.8 percent of total boating accidents.
In fact, in 2002, weather dropped out of the Coast Guard’s “Top Ten Contributing Factors” in its annual compilation of boating accident statistics.