Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Portland, ME

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NOUS41 KGYX 222118
PNSGYX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
515 PM EDT WED MAY 22 2013

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND NERACOOS CONTINUES TO OBSERVE
MAY 18TH THROUGH MAY 24TH AS NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK...

...THUNDERSTORM SAFETY...

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL SAFE
BOATING COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, REMINDING YOU THAT
NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS MAY 18TH THROUGH MAY 24TH.

THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE A MARINERS WORST NIGHTMARE. THEY CAN DEVELOP
QUICKLY AND CREATE DANGEROUS WIND AND WAVE CONDITIONS. THUNDERSTORMS
CAN BRING SHIFTING AND GUSTY WINDS, LIGHTNING, WATERSPOUTS, AND
TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH CAN TURN A DAY`S PLEASURE INTO A
NIGHTMARE OF DISTRESS.

THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES FOR LIGHTNING BUT ALL
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LIGHTNING. A LIGHTNING STRIKE TO A VESSEL CAN
BE CATASTROPHIC, ESPECIALLY IF IT RESULTS IN A FIRE OR LOSS OF
ELECTRONICS. IF YOUR BOAT HAS A CABIN, THEN STAY INSIDE AND AVOID
TOUCHING METAL OR ELECTRICAL DEVICES. IF YOUR BOAT DOESN`T HAVE A
CABIN, STAY AS LOW AS YOU CAN IN THE BOAT.

BOATERS SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN THUNDERSTORM CONDITIONS EXIST
AND HAVE A PLAN OF ESCAPE. MARINERS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AS AT
TIMES THEY MAY UNABLE TO REACH PORT QUICKLY. IT IS THEREFORE
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED YOU DO NOT VENTURE OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE A
POSSIBILITY. IF YOU DO VENTURE OUT AND RECOGNIZE THUNDERSTORMS
NEARBY, HEAD TO PORT OR SAFE SHELTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ULTIMATELY, BOATING SAFETY BEGINS ASHORE WITH PLANNING AND TRAINING.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THUNDERSTORMS ARE USUALLY BRIEF SO WAITING IT OUT
IS BETTER THAN RIDING IT OUT.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT THE FORECAST BEFORE VENTURING OUT ON THE
WATER.  A NEW LAKES FORECAST FOR SEBAGO AND WINNIPESAUKEE CAN BE
FOUND AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/GYX/LAKEFORECASTS/

THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE...NERACOOS AND THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL. VISIT THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ON THE WEB AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV...NERACOOS AT
WWW.NERACOOS.ORG AND THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL AT
WWW.SAFEBOATINGCOUNCIL.ORG

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