July 1st, 2009 West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, WCO Brook Tolbert Conditions: The skies opened up early Tuesday morning and the rain poured and poured and poured some more through out the day. Rainfall around the area was reported at over 5 inches for the short period. Our back yard gauge was nearly 7 inches. The Erie area along the I 90 corridor saw some of the worst flooding in years with many underpasses and low lying areas underwater. Many areas saw flooding for the first time. Pictures of vehicles with water up to the doors and impassable roadways flooded the internet. Interstate 90 was brought to a standstill and small boats hit the streets in some areas. The area tributaries were as high as I've seen in years. Walnut Creek was hit hard with the channel reaching up and nearly over the walls and jack knifing the launch ramps. Much more rain and we likely would have seen water in the parking area. The severe flooding of the area tribs has sent tremendous amounts of large debris, trees, and mud down stream and out of the mouths. It will be days as the water subsides and boaters are advised to use extreme caution to debris lying under the surface. The mud line extending into the Lake from the mouths is large and will make it difficult to see the exiting debris. Forecasts are calling for more rain. It is not unusual for such a rain event to have an adverse effect on fishing and it may be a number of days before all returns to normal. Current Lake Erie water temperature is 72 degrees. Maintaining Your Bilge Pump and Bilge Area: The insurance industry points to faulty bilge pumps as the number one cause of boats sinking. Many sunken boats are the result of the bilge pump not working at the owners slip and with the rain over the last few days, those docked boats with faulty bilge pumps may be paying the price. The following guidelines will help you keep the bilge pump in great shape: 1) Inspect the bilge pump regularly, about once a month. 2) Check the bilge pump action by lifting the float manually to ensure that the pump kicks on automatically. 3) Make sure no debris blocks the pivot arm from rising and falling. 4) Look for corrosion and rust, particularly on wires and connections. 5) Check for loose wires and replace or re-splice corroded wires. Make sure the wires are positioned above the high 6) Take note of the amount of water in the bilge. If it is excessive, check the source and address the problem. 7) Make sure any fittings below the waterline are double-clamped and free of leaks. 8) Bilge pumps should have power at all times. Make sure that yours is wired directly to the battery (or the main 9) Check the condition and voltage of the fuse to ensure it meets manufacturer specifications to avoid blowouts. 10) Always have a spare fuse on hand. 11) For continual bilge maintenance and odor control, pour about a half-cup of a quality bilge cleaner into the bilge weekly over the course of the boating season. This will prevent debris buildup and avoid bilge pump malfunctions.
Lightening: In moderate seas, slow your speed so you can ride atop and over a wave. Avoid driving the bow into a wave or riding to the top of the wave and falling off the back, which could bury the bow. Remember ... the heavier the seas, the slower your boat speed to minimize strain on the vessel and maximize steering control. Continue to keep the bilge free of water to prevent the rolling effects of sloshing water below. Local Weather: Thursday...Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the upper 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. Thursday Night...Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Friday...Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 70s. Friday Night...Mostly cloudy in the evening...then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Independence Day...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. Saturday Night...Partly cloudy in the evening...then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s. Sunday...Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 70s. Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Tuesday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. |
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