Expires:No;;572105 NOUS46 KSGX 231423 PNSSGX PZZ750-240600- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 725 AM PDT THU MAY 23 2013 THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, REMINDING YOU THAT NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS MAY EIGHTEENTH THROUGH MAY TWENTY-FOURTH. THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE A MARINERS WORST NIGHTMARE. THEY CAN DEVELOP QUICKLY AND CREATE DANGEROUS WIND AND WAVE CONDITIONS. THUNDERSTORMS CAN BRING SHIFTING AND GUSTY WINDS, LIGHTNING, WATERSPOUTS, AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH CAN TURN A DAYS PLEASURE INTO A NIGHTMARE OF DISTRESS. THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES FOR LIGHTNING BUT ALL THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LIGHTNING. A LIGHTNING STRIKE TO A VESSEL CAN BE CATASTROPHIC, ESPECIALLY IF IT RESULTS IN A FIRE OR LOSS OF ELECTRONICS. IF YOUR BOAT HAS A CABIN, THEN STAY INSIDE AND AVOID TOUCHING METAL OR ELECTRICAL DEVICES. IF YOUR BOAT DOES NOT HAVE A CABIN, STAY AS LOW AS YOU CAN IN THE BOAT. BOATERS SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN THUNDERSTORM CONDITIONS EXIST AND HAVE A PLAN OF ESCAPE. MARINERS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AS AT TIMES THEY MAY UNABLE TO REACH PORT QUICKLY. IT IS THEREFORE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED YOU DO NOT VENTURE OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE A POSSIBILITY. IF YOU DO VENTURE OUT AND RECOGNIZE THUNDERSTORMS NEARBY, HEAD TO PORT OR SAFE SHELTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. ULTIMATELY, BOATING SAFETY BEGINS ASHORE WITH PLANNING AND TRAINING. KEEP IN MIND THAT THUNDERSTORMS ARE USUALLY BRIEF SO WAITING IT OUT IS BETTER THAN RIDING IT OUT. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL ONLINE, AT W W W DOT SAFE BOATING COUNCIL DOT ORG AND VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT W W W DOT WEATHER DOT GOV.