Lake Pleasant boaters experience monsoon chaos

A monsoon caused chaos for boaters on Lake Pleasant on Sunday afternoon as a thunderstorm rolled through.

Boats were being tossed around the lake, sometimes into each other, as the waves grew bigger and stronger during the storm.

"Strong to severe thunderstorms will impact the Lake Pleasant recreational area over the next 30–90 minutes. Any of these storms have the potential to produce wind gusts 40-60+mph, brief heavy rainfall with hail, and frequent lightning. Use caution," the Flood Control District of Maricopa County posted to X around 3:40 p.m. on July 21.

The storm came fast and lasted a while.

Subscribe to FOX 10 Phoenix!

#fox10phoenix #news #monsoons #monsoon #boats #boating #azwx #arizona

FOX 10 Phoenix delivers breaking news, live events, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from Phoenix, Arizona and across the nation.

Watch more FOX 10 Phoenix on YouTube:

[thelifeoffastony]

Turn the boat around and face the waves. FML.. when storm hits always stay away from shoreline. People are Soo f#@$ing stupid.

[randomjackson]

why am i not surprised that not many of those "boaters" had the common sense to put the bow into the wind and just try to keep a slight headway.

[mustangracer]

I'm in Havasu, same storm came in here.. when you see the thunderheads and the wind starts picking up..
go like hell to a safe spot and tie down.. the monsoon only takes 5 min. to get ugly.. better to be safe.

[toddbob]

Geniuses can't look at the 50mph wind forecast what do you expect a boat is going to do on the water.

[silentron]

Sudden wind that severe, forget loading at the ramp with the wind and waves at your stern. Put your bow into the wind, run with just enough headway for control and keeping the bow up, and head for the leeward side of an island or the opposite shore, drop anchors (minimum of two) and wait it out. This has happened to me more than once when bay fishing and summer storms come up. Learn your boat and always be prepared, even for a late or overnight wait if that’s what it takes to get everyone home safe.

[joelarson]

They totally should’ve road it out on the opposite side of the lake. I’ve seen this happen before clogging up the ramps, pushing boats on the shoreline filling them with water always go to the opposite side

[rmpo]

What's really crazy is we have to remind people to bring life jackets. Sad.

[marcseclecticstuff]

I carry 3x 15# anchors on my 30' boat just for this reason. I've been caught in a few severe midwest storms that WEREN'T in the forecast, learned from the first experience. If possible, get to the lee side (shore closest to the direction of the wind). The wind builds the waves quickly so the less water between you and the wind the better. With the bow facing directly into the wind I drop the front anchor with all 100' of rope out. I then toss another anchor off one corner of the stern (back) as far out as I can, then do the same off the opposite side of the stern. If possible, I'll toss them on the back of a kayak and paddle them all the way out 100' before dropping it. The second is on a 150' line that I try to drop on shore if possible just to make it easier to get them retrieved when the storm is over. Front anchor is a claw design, the back 2 are Danforth's. This method keeps the boat pointing into the wind and holds very well. The lake I boat in has a deep, at least 3' mud bottom so getting anchors to hold can be challenging which is why I always try to put out the entire length of anchor lines out if possible. It's a lot of work, even more so when trying to pull up 3 anchors buried in mud (I'm often by myself) and a PITA to store everything, but it will keep my passengers and boat safe. I also try to stow everything up top and take down the camper top if it's up, at least the sides. I've gotten caught in gust fronts from storms that were so strong they started tearing the camper top apart. Running to the boat ramp is the worst thing you could possibly do. They're an amateur hour nightmare when it's sunny and calm and turn into what you saw here when things get bad.

[ChrisWehadababyitsaboy]

buncha desert people trying to boat, not surprised

[danielavila]

That's what they get for not checking weather reports...

[AugustusAsgeir]

Ahh yes today's society where everyone has a computer in their hands yet still lacks the sense God gave a goose on Sunday

[Easyrecliner]

Looks like it’s not just Haulover with birdbrain captains.

[IPETGOATII.]

Red sky at night, sailor's delight red sky in the morning, sailor take warning.

[OttoTheWeim]

I’m sure it went like this:
Storm started to show and make itself obvious
Every boat on the water rushed to the ramps. All grouped up and idiots take forever to load their boat in perfect weather
Storm builds and just starts chaos tossing boats all over, boats get tossed sideways on trailers further delaying and blocking ramps. People panicking, some people don’t have a functioning bilge pump and taking in water leading to further panic and poor decisions.

[NunYa]

Most people who own boats, have no business owning a boat. Put your nose into it if you cant find some kind of shelter from the wind.

[smoothoperator]

Inexperienced Boaters is all I saw.
The Experienced Boaters were on the shore with a beer watching the show. I Guarantee That!💯😂😂😂

[DM-lccf]

Sick to see children, babies without life jackets, they fall, get tossed off the boat by a wave, they are gone. The life jacket gives those extra seconds and minutes to save their life. Adults need them too, but...

[scdrescher]

I’m not familiar with Lake pleasant. What stopped folks from anchoring on the windward side of the lake where there wouldn’t be any waves? Or do the storms circle around? On Tahoe we get our afternoon zephyrs and if you can make it to the west shore there are plenty of places where you can shelter up. The video makes it look like everyone is rushing for the leeward ramp which is obviously the worst spot. Again, I don’t how the typical patterns evolve there. Just wondering.

[sterlingmatsui]

We have been in the Surprise area a dozen years now...this was truly one of the hardest hitting Haboobs we've ever received, including the blowing dust, extremely strong winds snapping trees, and then finally a torrential downpour~the rain is always quite welcomed since has been a million degrees here, and NO, it has not been a "dry heat" this year...Quite muggy:(

[toddshreve]

Oh look, a storm. Let's go where moving things meet not moving things and put the not-pointy side towards the waves.