Storm Team 4
Extreme heat causes problems for Milwaukee-area boaters
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Lake Michigan. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE - Dangerously high temperatures are taking a toll on boaters.
Water levels are down, while the number of boaters is up.
Austin Wesner was out on Lake Michigan early Tuesday morning.
The extreme heat was overpowering.
"Hot. Muggy. Nasty. Sticky. Ugh," Wesner uttered to TODAY'S TMJ4's Melissa McCrady.
"It's nice (on the lake). I dipped my head in there while we were going. It's cold, but it felt good."
Our dry, hot, humid summer appears to have increased the number of boaters out on our waterways.
"The weekends have holidays have been pretty busy, maybe more so than prior years because of the temperatures having been so hot," explained Milwaukee Police Harbor Patrol Officer Art Kleist.
"Safety is paramount as far as we're concerned."
He explains that for the most part, boaters are behaving.
One problem, though, has been lower water levels due to the lack of rain.
"There's been a couple instances where boats have been grounded in areas they typically wouldn't," said Kleist.
With the continued extreme heat and drought, it's a good reminder to be prepared before going on lakes, rivers and streams with your boat.
"The water is not the same. When you're on the land and get into a little mishap, you're going to have emergency services there in a few minutes. If something happens (in Lake Michigan), it could be longer."
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