With summer comes thunder storms, and they can escalate quickly. Here's a photo of Lake Wallenpaupack that proves how fast things can go from bad to worse on the lake.
So what do you do if you're far from the dock and the rain starts coming down?
1. Put on your life jacket. Don't take any chances in a storm. Wearing your life jacket can save your life, especially in unpredictable weather.
2. Take shelter. If you can safely beach your boat and take shelter on land then do so. If you are not close to land then take shelter in the lowest part of the vessel.
3. Do not anchor. Unless there is an immediate threat of drifting ashore, it's best to keep the anchor in the boat.
4. Sit on the floor. Avoid standing or rocking the boat. Stay near the floor.
5. Drive slowly. If you have to keep moving then slow your pace down and take into account the visibility level.
6. Do not panic. Keeping your calm is extremely important in dangerous weather. Panicking may cause you to make irrational decisions so keep your cool.
The best thing to do is to avoid being caught on the water in a storm in the first place. Make sure you're aware of weather conditions and read the sky. Get off of the water at the first sign of inclement weather. As our photo shows, it can get pretty bad in a matter of minutes.