Some of the best boating news over the Memorial Day weekend (Thank you, veterans) has been penned by DC area weathermen dutifully repeating warnings issued by the National Weather Service. WUSA-TV 9 meteorologist Topper Shutt is the latest contributor with his piece in the Sunday, May 29, 2011 edition of The Washington Examiner.
Shutt's "Chilly water" message warning of hypothermia appears in the Weather News You Can Use column. Sadly, WashingtonExaminer.com did not post an active link to the story, so as a public service, I'm posting the entire piece here. This will assure two or three more people, mostly relatives, get this information.
Remember, full credit goes to Channel-9 weatherman Topper Shutt.
"Many people flock to the shore for Memorial Day weekend. If I suggested you go to the beach on Thanksgiving, you would think I was crazy. However, the ocean is actually warmer on Thanksgiving Day than on Memorial Day.
"The water temperature on Thanksgiving Day is typically 64 degrees. On Memorial Day, it's only about 61 degrees.
"The ocean is still recovering from winter and hasn't received the added boost from the Gulf Stream. The atmosphere is vertically mixed, but the ocean is horizontally mixed.
"If you get into the water this weekend, don't stay in long. It is possible to get hypothermia in water that is about 50 to 60 degrees. Hypothermia can set in between one and two hours.
"Although the sun might not feel that hot, late May sun is equivalent to July sun, so remember to apply sunscreen."
Photo credit: Ocean City surf, Anthony Brown, 2011
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