Thunderstorms

[LazyDays]

With the forecast showing chance of storms over the next several days, it brings up the question: what do you do if you’re out on the lake & get caught in a thunderstorm? I know conventional wisdom says check the radar before leaving the dock but let’s be real, Mother Nature can be very unpredictable. I’ve been fishing the lake regularly since 2018 and am lucky I’ve never been caught in one…but I know it’s bound to happen at some point. I’ve been in a pack of boats fishing before & high tailed it to Canadian water to avoid a line of strong storms but it didn’t seem like most of the other boats cared. Is it not that big of a deal to get caught in a storm? I’d be mostly worried about lightening…

[itsbob]

Best advice is to run for your ramp or dock as has been the custom for decades on Erie.Now you can watch radar on your phone and might avoid the lightning by running a direction that the storms might miss you.Another is fish closer to home port so can run in faster.

[itsbob]

Depending on the size of your boat,the wind in storms can swamp a boat too. If you see a long line of storms approaching with a bow shape to it,that can have extremely high winds on leading edge.The lake itself can affect the weather too. Especially in spring and fall when there is a greater difference between the air and water temps.Several years ago,we had just gotten in from fishing and I looked at my radar on phone and a storm was coming across the lake from the NW.Told my buddy who was closing up the boat to do it quickly and my dad and I went to bays edge to get our fish cleaned.The cell didn't look special but it was extremely hot on the land.When that cell hit shore it exploded into a monster.Had all kinds of hail damage and my dad and I listened to tornado sirens at the fish cleaners.I walked outside and saw the rotation in the clouds above followed by an intense hail storm.The opposite in the late fall when the warmer water can increase storm intensity.

[LazyDays]

Itsbob, thanks for the feedback. So it sounds like if it’s at all possible, do your best to avoid being caught in the storm—being on the lake in the middle of a storm is not safe. That’s what I wanted to confirm. My boat is 25ft & has a cuddy cabin which made me wonder if we could seek shelter down there in the event we got caught up in a storm or if it’s safer to motor at a low speed to maintain control.

[Ole fisherman]

Been on lake Erie since the 60's, only time I have been caught on the lake in a storm is when I was dumb enough to refuse to heed the forecast and warnings ! Anyone getting caught on the lake didn't do their job of checking the weather closely. Why take a chance, there is always another day !!

[eriepro]

STORMS..
monitor your marine weather channel it will put out alerts. on days forecasting storms fish to the west of your launch site you usually will beat developing storms in. if your near the islands you can always tuck in on the lee side. NEVER hide in a cabin or drift sideways motor slow put life jackets on and lower your antenna.
.

[LazyDays]

This is all excellent advice. Thank you!

[itsbob]

If caught in storms with high wind motor slowly into wind.Never hide in cabin and let boat drift sideways.

[West Basin]

Just like on land, it's the size and intensity of a thunderstorm that matters. A small localized storm is different than a thick long thunderstorms front. As always, check the forecast, and if storms are forecast, keep an eye on the horizon and check you phone or radar every half hour. I've been out in all of it. Sat it out and motored around small localized thunderstorms. Ducked behind Islands for some larger localized and small front storms. Ran in just ahead of a few bigger fronts. With today's ability to check weather almost constantly, there is no reason to get "stuck" out on the Lake during a major thunderstorm front.

One thing to learn is sometimes a localized storm can form either on the Lake or along the shore. It won't move in from the north, west, or southwest. You'll often see a "haze" on the horizon in the direction of the developing storm. You can see the upper air start to form clouds, then get gray. Sometimes you'll feel downdrafts of cooler air, or static electricity in the air (your hair stands up or your line makes an arc in the air and hangs there for a few seconds when you cast). I've heard my radio antenna "buzz". The trick is to learn what this looks like in the early stages. Once you notice this, if it's either in the direction of any prevailing wind, over top of you, or in the direction you need to head to get to your ramp, pack up and get going BEFORE the clouds start to get gray. I've seen these storms form in 30 minutes. Clear or mostly clear with clouds around or small storms in the area. You know the potential is there. Then it starts, the conditions I mentioned above. Sometimes it can develop rapidly. Next thing you know, the storm is near fully formed and you are caught. Sometimes it's a small localized thunderstorm, a few square miles in size. It forms, then rain and wind, then it dissipates. Other times it keeps developing into a larger storm, lasts a lot longer. Often other similar storms will form nearby. If in doubt, head in. When these conditions exist, just because the radar is currently clear in the prevailing wind direction doesn't mean another storm won't form.

Be smart and observant. That's the best policy. "Keep an eye on the sky, because the Legend of the Lake says the Lake has got it's eye on you." - Pat Daily song.

[BigDan]

going out with skipper 9 one time JIM told me a storm with high winds, you should go with the wind and waves not into them.