Weather and fishing
What do 40 or 90 flashes on a lake mean?
The orange lights have two levels: about 40 flashes per minute signal a strong-wind warning; about 90 signal a storm warning. Count the flashing rate, not the number of separate lights.
What to do
- For a strong-wind warning, keep watching the weather and reassess your trip. The warning does not give an exact arrival time for gusts.
- For a storm warning, immediately take the measures needed to protect people and the boat, and head for a harbour or sheltered shore if necessary.
- During thunderstorms, the lights may activate only shortly before the first gusts. An unlit warning light is therefore not proof of safe weather.