National Weather Service Cold Water Safety Message

* Many people will be recreating outdoors on this Memorial Day, and people may underestimate the dangers of the cold water temperatures which are currently only in the lower 50s on the lakes and around 50 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 this weekend with gusts up to 25 mph from the south. 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. close