Weather or Not: Don’t Let Changing Conditions Catch You Off Guard

As summer approaches and boating season begins to scale up, it is important to keep in mind how weather can make or break a day on the water. A sunny morning with offshore winds can quickly and violently degrade to gale-force winds, lightning and torrential rain - if not a waterspout. On an open boat, you are virtually unprotected, and cabin boats are vulnerable to visibility, wind, seas and control issues.

Know Before You Go

The adage that “being a weatherman is the only profession where you can keep your job even if you are wrong more than 50 percent of the time” is no longer a truism. The science of meteorology has advanced to be highly accurate. Checking weather predictions is the best way to be informed about what to expect and whether to even go out.

Local weather on your television news programming is a start. However, it tends to report on sun and rain issues and not so much on marine weather conditions.

Weather apps are a good next step. There are many free weather apps such as AccuWeather, WeatherBug, The Weather Channel or Weather Underground. I use MyRadarPro, which is $50 per year. I like it for its ease of use on my iPhone, which I have with me 24/7. Most of these apps use NOAA weather radar as their base for predictions, so consider skipping the middleman and going with the NOAA Weather Radar Live app.

These apps are all pretty good at predicting wind, cloud conditions and rain, but if you are going offshore, it’s best to know what the seas are going to be like. NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center offers free guidance via offshore buoys. The closest reference when going offshore via Ponce Inlet is the National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS52 KMLB:https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS52.KMLB.html

Before heading offshore, take a few minutes to check a true marine forecast, not just a general weather app. A good rule of thumb is seas under five feet, winds below 15 knots and wave periods of at least seven seconds; anything beyond that can quickly turn uncomfortable or unsafe. Keep in mind that Florida’s afternoon storms build fast, so even if the morning looks perfect, always have a plan to head in early if conditions start to change.

So now you know the predicted weather and sea conditions, but there is still the question: should you go? The local Freedom Boat Club has good rules for its members. Before going offshore, check the NOAA National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS52 KMLB. If the sea heights are below five feet, wind speed is below 15 knots and the dominant wave period is seven seconds or more, they allow members to go offshore in appropriately rated boats. These are great guidelines for everyone. If the seas and winds are greater, it is not very pleasant or safe to be offshore.

Weather Eye

Weather predictions are just that… predictions. When you are boating, keep an eye on the sky.

As the weather gets warmer, coastal weather becomes more foreseeable. In the mornings, the land and sea temperatures are at equilibrium. As the morning progresses, the Florida landmass begins to heat up, causing air to rise and pull air from the ocean inland. Around midday, an onshore breeze begins.

By afternoon, the relatively cool, moist air begins to heat up over land and creates quickly rising cumulonimbus clouds that tend to form inland and move toward the shore. They can grow and move quickly. Therefore, if you are on coastal waters in the afternoon, keep an eye out for darkening skies to the west. These storms often don’t make it to the coast, but for safety considerations, it may be time to head in.

If you get caught in a storm, it is best not to panic. Don your life jackets, point the boat into the waves and wind, and take a “weather station.” Apply just enough throttle to stay in place. Visibility becomes an issue, and if you cannot see, it’s never a good idea to run. Wait for the storm to “burn out.” These storms tend to lose energy as they approach the cooler waters of the Atlantic.

If you are offshore and see storms rolling off the coast, you may be able to outrun them. However, sea conditions can change dramatically, so be prepared to wear your life jackets and “quarter the seas” - heading into the waves and wind at an acute angle to avoid broaching. Wait for the weather to subside and visibility to improve before entering the inlet safely. The jetties and sandbars can be deadly.

Safety on a boat is not a deterrent to having fun, it is essential. See you on the water.