Varningar, Gowell School

Special Weather Statement issued May 24 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME * The warm air temperatures this weekend around 70 may cause people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water temperatures which are currently only in the mid 50s on the lakes and in the lower 60s 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 20 mph from the northwest. 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. * Due to recent rain, area rivers continue to run fast with swift water currents. The swift water can easily overturn a kayak or canoe into the frigid river waters. Once in the cold water, the strong currents will make it difficult to reach safety.