...National Weather Service Cold Water Safety Message...
* The warm air temperatures this weekend in the mid 80s may cause
people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water
temperatures which are currently only in the mid 50s on the lakes
and in the upper 50s on the rivers.
* The cold water temperatures can quickly cause hypothermia to
anyone immersed in the water. According to the Maine Warden
Service, when the water temperature is below 60 degrees, the
average submerged person could lose dexterity within minutes and
be unable to accomplish simple tasks. Anyone on small boats,
canoes or kayaks should plan accordingly if recreating this
weekend and use extreme caution to avoid this threat. Paddle
smart from the start and always wear your life jacket!
* Strong winds are also expected today with gusts up to 35 mph from
the west. If boating on large bodies of water, these strong winds
can increase the likelihood of overturning your boat, canoe or
kayak due to increased wave heights.