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Jonathan Rizzo
Warning and Coordination Meteorologist
Key West National Weather Service

The key to ensuring weather does not turn an enjoyable pastime into a dangerous adventure is to understand the maritime weather threats. These include lightning, waterspouts, strong winds and rough seas. Florida's abundance of coastline, rivers and inland lakes, provide many venues for outdoor activity. It is our mild temperatures and light breezes, which encourage residents and visitors alike to take to the water. However, when rapidly approaching storms and waterspouts occur, vessels are sent scurrying for safe haven in the face of strong winds and dangerous seas. Having access to weather information provided by the National Weather Service is key. Prepare and stay aware, so your outdoor water activities are as safe as possible.

THUNDERSTORM THREATS
Because Florida leads the nation in thunderstorm frequency, lightning presents a serious danger to boaters. The best course of action a vessel operator can take to reduce the risk from a lightning strike is to return to safe harbor and seek shelter inside a sturdy, enclosed building. If caught on the open water, remember that one does not have to be struck directly by a lighting strike while on deck to receive severe injuries or be killed. Tall masts, antenna booms and fly decks are all high profile targets for a lightning strike, and frequently strikes to vessels produce extensive damages to navigational and communications equipment, and therefore all on board should stay away from all ungrounded metal objects.
In addition to lightning, thunderstorms frequently produce strong wind gusts...either within the core of blinding rain or out in advance of the darkest, most threatening clouds. Wind gusts of 34 knots or more can easily capsize a small boat, especially when the boater is unprepared. Boaters can look for signs of approaching strong winds near showers and thunderstorms by noting an arc of low-altitude clouds rapidly approaching their location, which foretell a rapid increase in wind. The best course of action would be to head for the nearest harbor away from the approaching clouds, and to make sure all on board are wearing approved personal safety flotation devices.

WATERSPOUTS
Waterspouts, in appearance, resemble tornadoes over water, and are frequently broken into two categories: tornadic waterspouts and fair weather waterspouts.
Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes, spawned by severe thunderstorms, over water. They form from within the thunderstorm and develop downward to the water surface, and are capable of threatening lives and property over water as it would over land areas.

Fair weather waterspouts, perhaps a slight misnomer, usually are weaker than tornadic waterspouts. Fair weather waterspouts usually form during relatively calm weather, from the dark flat base of a line of developing, puffy cumulus clouds. Frequently a rain shower is noted nearby. The Florida Keys have the greatest incidence of waterspouts, and any given location along the island chain may witness waterspouts on 30 or more days each year. Fair weather waterspouts differ from their tornadic cousins in that they actually form just above the surface of the water, and develop upward. The waterspout may be fully-developed even when only a small portion is visible, such as a small funnel-shaped cloud attached to the base of the cumulus cloud. The rapid appearance of whitecaps nearby when winds have been light, or sea spray lifting and rotating above the water surface, require immediate action. The best way to avoid a waterspout is to move at a 90-degree angle to its apparent movement. Never move closer to a waterspout, as they can be just as dangerous as tornadoes.

Many other weather features can combine to produce several days of windy weather across Florida. Sustained winds of 18 knots can easily build seas to five feet, and frequently higher and steeper where the wind blows against the direction of the Gulf Stream, or a tidal current through a channel. Tropical cyclones during the summer and autumn months may also produce much higher winds and seas. Operators of small vessels should never venture out into the open water in areas where tropical storm or hurricane warnings are in effect.

The National Weather Service issues forecast and warning information through a variety of methods. The best method for receiving timely warning information is through NOAA Weather Radio, a service provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Many NOAA Weather Radio receivers can be set to turn on upon the issuance of a warning. Many VHF marine band radios also receive frequencies within the weather band, and the U.S. Coast Guard also rebroadcasts some of these warnings on VHF channels 16 and 22A.
Because good preparation also decreases the risk of injury and property loss, the National Weather Service also provides coastal marine forecasts, describing specific wind and sea conditions expected for the next five days, and daily hazardous weather outlooks, describing the risk of potentially dangerous marine conditions when expected over the next seven days, via NOAA Weather Radio and the Internet. Boaters planning activities may find forecasts from the National Weather Service serving the waters near them by going to www.srh.noaa.gov, the Web site of the National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters. Links on the national map will connect each National Weather Service forecast office's Web site.

A disaster safety curriculum for use by teachers of children,
grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.

TEACHERS: Refer to the lesson plans & activities on lightning in your school's Masters of Disaster curriculum kit.

For more information visit their Web site.