Buffalo, N.Y. – Boaters on Lake Ontario face dangerous conditions this afternoon as strong thunderstorms move east across the lake, bringing the threat of waterspouts through 3 p.m. Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service in Buffalo, radar detected storms at 1:04 p.m. along a line from north of Hamlin Beach to near Fort Niagara, pushing east at 35 knots. These storms are capable of producing waterspouts, which can easily capsize small vessels and create hazardous waves.
Communities and shorelines at risk include Ontario Beach, Irondequoit Bay, Thirty Mile Point, Wilson, Olcott, Hamlin Beach, and Fort Niagara. The NWS advises all boaters to seek safe harbor immediately and avoid navigating open waters until conditions improve.
The threat of waterspouts and sudden strong winds can develop quickly with little warning. Mariners are urged to monitor weather radios, avoid unnecessary travel on the lake, and remain sheltered until the warning expires. Additional advisories could be issued if storms maintain intensity as they move east along the shoreline.
