(5-minute read)
Published on page 30 by BlueRidgeChristianNews in September 2026..
“That sky sure looks dark. I bet a storm is a brewing,” I said to my husband. “I am going out to the dock to make sure everything is secured.”
Off I went to check the safety of our waterfront items.
Back inside, I nervously glanced at the weather app again. Indeed, storm hazards were in the forecast.
It was calling for widespread dangerous winds of up to 80 mph, hail, lightning, and an elevated risk for tornadoes.
Intense weather is nothing to blink an eye at, and this summer has simply been off-the charts.
I wasn’t even surprised when I saw someone post a video of a waterspout seen at the head of the Chesapeake Bay last weekend.
According to the National Weather Service, tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water or move from land to water. They have the same characteristics as a land tornado but are associated with severe thunderstorms .
Waterspouts are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning.
If you’re a boater, you never want to get stranded on the water in the middle of a squall.
While wind gusts can be problematic – they typically last for only seconds. A squall, on the other hand, is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed which can last several minutes (but feel a lot longer).
A squall line is a wall of dark, towering clouds stretching across
the horizon. This band of thunderstorms, usually 10-20 miles wide, can stretch for hundreds of miles.
I’ve been told that one can spot a squall line by keeping an eye out for shelf clouds. They are low, wedge-shaped arcus clouds attached to the leading edge of the storm.
No matter what kind of vessel you are on, in the midst of gale-force winds, open water is your friend.
Be advised to stay clear of tight harbors or shallow areas where other scrambling boats create hazards.
Safety Precautions for Sailors:
If you’re on a sailboat when a squall comes up, an important word of advice is to “reef” the mainsail (decrease its size) and then roll up the jib.
Act quickly, for if you are caught with too much sail in a sudden squall, the boat may broach (be laid over on its side by the wind) before you can shorten sail.
It’s important to remember to “fall off the wind” so as to lessen the force on the rigging and keep the weight centered to stabilize the craft. This will help avoid an accidental jibe.
Safety Reminders for Other Watercraft:
If you’re on a power boat and a bad storm is approaching, make sure you attach your engine safety kill-switch lanyard to your wrist or life jacket. Stow all loose gear in the berth beneath to prevent items from becoming dangerous projectiles.
Turn on your navigation lights so other vessels can see you through blinding rain.
If lightning is nearby, avoid touching metal railings, towers, or electronics.
If you’re in a center-console fishing boat (like we used to have) do not take waves dead on; this slams the hull.
In other words, never allow waves to hit directly on the beam (side) of the vessel but rather approach heavy waves at a 45-degree angle.
Enduring atmospheric instability is not just a boating problem.
Whether our problems are political, emotional, relational, or financial, we all desire something solid, steady, secure, and anchored.
Keeping safe and feeling secure is everyone’s goal, but sometimes, without warning – things, places and circumstances can feel life they are falling apart.
This can leave you feeling powerless and afraid.
But please be encouraged.
As I read my bible devotions the other day, I was happy to recall that even the wind and waves still obey Jesus.
Mark 4: 37-39 states,
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was
nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke
him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
I prefer the Amplified Classic Version of this story as it highlights the preeminence of our
Lord over nature.
“And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still
(muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and
there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).”
So, the next time you’re caught in a storm, or in a season where God feels hidden, I pray the peace of The Holy Spirit wash over you, and the stability of Jesus securely anchor your soul.
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