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Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Newport/Morehead, NC
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NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>095-098-103-104-240000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
844 AM EDT THU MAY 23 2013

...THUNDERSTORM SAFETY...

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL SAFE
BOATING COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOR THIS YEAR`S
NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK.

THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE A MARINER`S 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.

TO LEARN MORE...VISIT THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL
ONLINE...AT WWW.SAFEBOATINGCOUNCIL.ORG.

$$
National Weather Service National Headquarters
