BOATsmart! USA Knowledge Base

Module 03 - Getting on the Water

Identifying Dangerous Weather and Water Conditions

Dangerous Weather Conditions

Although you should always check the official weather forecast before you go boating, you should always be watching out for the development of any of these dangerous conditions:

Fog, dark clouds and lightning.
A falling barometer (If the barometer falls, you can expect rain to fall too).
A noticeable halo around the sun or moon (this usually indicates rain).
Changes in the direction and temperature of the wind (a drop in temperature indicates a storm).
Puffy, vertically rising clouds.
Watch out for the West: Foul weather usually comes from the west, but storms from the east tend to be the most powerful.

Dangerous Water Conditions

In addition to the dangerous weather conditions you should be watching out for when boating, you should also keep an eye for any of these dangerous water conditions:

High water: After heavy rainfall, flooding rivers or tide changes, high water can camouflage obstacles in the water that would normally be visible.
Sand bars: Watch out for these shallow water areas that can damage your boat.
Strong currents: Currents can make swimming very dangerous and will make boat navigation difficult.
Large waves: A heavy-looking sea is a sign of a storm and large waves could swamp your boat.