Tips for a Stormy Sky

Stormy Weather 1

Aug 17, 2016

Recognizing the signs of an approaching thunderstorm and heading for shore well before it arrives is essential to avoiding a potentially perilous situation on the water.

A lot can happen in a matter of minutes. When warning signs become apparent — a darkening sky, the sound of thunder, or increasing cool wind — do not delay. Particular attention should be paid to lines, which affect a large area and almost always herald the arrival of a powerful, long-lasting storm.

Below is a table that shows different thunderstorm situations and the conditions they are likely to bring. In all cases, it is assumed that the storm is in the quadrant from which the weather is moving that usually approaches from the west. Mariners should constantly check the movement of the storm and the position of its core to ensure that they are not in its path.

Stormy Weather 2

To learn more about forecasting weather and reading conditions register for Introduction to Weather for Recreational Boaters.

-Courtesy of Environment Canada

 

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More

Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More

Lifestyle