Lightning Safety Week: Boating Safety
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 11:49AM 
Summertime in Georgia means being out on the boat for a lot of families. Unfortunately, many lightning fatalaties happen while families are boating, fishing and swimming. How can you protect your family while out on your boat? Here are some tips from the CDC:
Short-term forecasts are quite accurate; however, they may miss some very localized storms
Watch for the development of large, well-defined, rising cumulus clouds. Cumulus clouds have flat bases and dome or cauliflower shapes. Cumulus clouds can develop into thunderstorm clouds. When you see cumulus reach 30,000 feet, the thunderstorm is generally developing, and it is time to head for shore. As clouds become darker and more anvil-shaped, the storm is already in progress.
Watch for distant lightning and listen for distant thunder. You may hear thunder before you see lightning on a bright day. If you hear thunder or see lightning, seek shelter away from the water.
The National Ag Safety Database provides a number of ways you can protect your boat and minimize damage if it is struck by lightning or is near a lightning strike.
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