Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY
Issued by NWS Buffalo, NY
248 NOUS41 KBUF 231320 PNSBUF NYZ001>008-010>014-019>021-085-240130- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Buffalo NY 920 AM EDT Thu May 23 2024 ...NATIONAL SAFE BOATING AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES... The National Weather Service in partnership with the National Safe Boating Council has declared May 18 through May 24 2024 National Safe Boating Week to help promote safe boating practices across the Great Lakes and on inland lakes and waterways. Today`s topic is lightning safety on the open water. No one thinks they will be struck by lightning, but the most common threat boaters face in thunderstorms is lightning. Lightning can generate a phenomenal amount of heat that can vaporize water, melt metal, or even cause objects to explode. In fact, bolts of lightning can produce extreme temperatures of over 50,000 degrees fahrenheit, or almost 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun! A lightning strike to a boat can be catastrophic, especially if it results in a fire or loss of radio and navigation equipment. Although you cannot prevent lightning from striking your boat, you can take protective measures to limit the damage. The best thing to do as soon as you see lightning or hear thunder is to head to shore and take shelter on land until the storm passes. If you must weather the storm on the water, drop anchor so the boats bow points into the wind. If your boat has a cabin, 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. Ensure that everyone on board is wearing their life jacket. To protect your boat, make sure it is grounded. Use a good conductive material to allow the current to travel through and off the boat through a discharge plate or the keel. Another way to minimize the risk of a lightning strike is to install a static dissipater. Even though you can`t stop lightning from striking, you can take measures to minimize the damage to your boat and those on board. For more information about boating safety visit weather.gov/safety/safeboating-week and safeboatingcampaign.com $$