Boaters Urged to Watch the Weather

The monsoon storms that have raked the Southwest over recent weeks have Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) officials concerned about the safety of area boaters. The National Weather Service says boaters can expect to encounter thunderstorm activity during the next two months as the months of July, August and September generally bring a monsoonal weather pattern to southern Nevada and with it an increased chance for powerful thunderstorms.

These summer thunderstorms are characterized by sudden and sometimes violent changes in the weather that are often accompanied by high winds. These conditions, according to NDOW, the state’s safe boating agency, create a significant danger for recreational boaters.

NDOW game wardens are particularly concerned about boaters who are new to the desert Southwest and may be unfamiliar with the ferocity of the region’s summer weather patterns.

“Many people, especially those who are new to the desert, just don’t realize how fast desert thunderstorms can come up or how powerful they can be. The storms usually bring high winds and extremely rough water,” said Edwin Lyngar, NDOW Boating Safety Educator. “Unwary boaters often underestimate the impact of these storms and are taken by surprise; that leads to real problems. Our officers often put their own lives on the line to rescue boaters who have been driven aground or had their boats swamped during these storms,” Lyngar said.

Over the years, several people have lost their lives in weather-related boating accidents on southern Nevada waters. One example Lyngar cited occurred when a boat swamped in high winds on Lake Mohave. One of the passengers, who was not wearing a life jacket, died.

“When caught by a storm, a boater’s first order of business – if they aren’t wearing it already – is to put on their life jacket. Then the boater should look for a protected location in which to ride out the storm,” Lyngar said.

Summer storms may also be accompanied by heavy rains that can lead to flash floods, which can wash large amounts of debris into main waterways. Boaters need to watch for floating obstacles that might damage their boat or cause an accident.

“A good rule of thumb is to keep an eye to the sky. The sky will tell the weather story, especially during the summer,” Lyngar said. He encourages anyone who recreates outdoors to make a habit of checking and heeding the weather forecast before leaving home and periodically while out and about. The latest weather forecast can be found on the web at www.nws.noaa.gov, the National Weather Service website.

Changes in the weather generally, but not always, come from the west. Warning signs include wind shifts, thunderheads building in the distance, increasingly choppy waters, swelling waves and a drop in barometric pressure.

NDOW encourages people who frequent the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and other desert waters to carry a marine band radio and a cellular telephone. The National Park Service monitors two-way radios 24-hours a day on channels 16 and 22A.