Big Storms
 

The WinniBelle took refuge in Winter Harbor during the big thunder and lightening storms this early evening. Here's a shot...

Wow! THanks for posting!

That was one heck of a squall that came through!! I registered wind gusts here on Welch at almost 50 MPH! It only lasted about 30 minutes but it was wild. I Hope no one was caught out on water.

Dan

There were two jet skiers and a power boat in Johnson's cove during the storm. I would have freaked.

We had just gotten back from Alton by boat when it hit. It was nasty! It boomed for probably 20 minutes or so before the rain hit so there should have been fair warning to those still out.

It's always a tough decision if you should make a run for it or not. With jet ski's in Johnsons cove, seems like you could find a sandy spot, beach them and wait it out on shore.

A power boat is another matter, I guess I'd rather be in the cove then half-way across the broads when it hits.

We were at the dock when it hit, I put up the canvas and went home, so did everyone else. Traffic was a mess.

Yes traffic was a freakin nightmare.....

Now as for being stuck in a boat... well as a lake front property owner, I always have room for people to come in and tie up durring a freak storm.... Unfortunately I am not sure that all other lakefront property owners feel the same.....

LIforrelaxin, I think most lakefront property owners think like you do. People are better than you think, especially in a crisis. Americans are better than we look on the news.

As an owner of a medium sized cruiser, I would not tie up to a strangers dock in a storm, unless if was a life or death situation.

First my boat is heavy and a lot of lakefront home docks are made for smaller day boats, my boat could cause damage to the dock in the wind and waves. Second, unless its a hurricane coming a cruiser should be able to ride out a summer squall. It may be a little scary, but we will survive.

Now when I'm out on the kayak. Any port in storm.

Cate,

You're getting a chance to see a lot of different aspects of the lake. Isn't it great?!

Just curious... shortly before the storm hit we saw a Marine Patrol boat come down to the other end of Winter Harbor. We were wondering why he wasn't seeking shelter. Did you happen to see him take shelter or leave the harbor?

I didn't see the Marine Patrol boat around Winter Harbor in that storm so I can't comment on what it was doing. I do know that there was a power boat out there just circling around and I was going to go down to the dock and signal it in, but the lightening was too scary for me to go down there. I was surprised they didn't go to any docks and stayed in the middle of that squall. Guess they have some stories to tell.

And yes...there is nothing like being lakeside for two weeks and seeing all the changing moods of the lake. Water watching is one of my favorite things to do. (the sailor in me I suppose)

we watched the storm move across the lake from the southwest, in a matter of minutes you could not see Mark Island. It's rare when we have 3-4 foot waves crashing in on our shore, amazingly we did not loose any of the floats that we left on the small boat.

Not me this time but I have been caught in a nasty storm on my PWC. It was the one time I disregarded the no wake by Governors. Right through the bridge while crossing my fingers and dodging lightening strikes into the lake all around me. That rain felt like hail at speed. Never want to do that again.