Storm warnings , winds up to 65 knots or Hurricane warnings , with winds of 65 plus knots. When you hear these warnings, it is best to tie down your boat by doubling up any tiedowns or mooring lines and stowing any loose gear. Big storm fronts are usually forecast 12 to 48 hours ahead. Small isolated thunderstorms are much less predictable. These storms are very difficult for your local weather forecast to predict.
Thunderstorms can show up quickly, with high winds and lots of lightning.
Typically they show up on hot, humid and hazy days. Everything feels still on the water, but you will see a tower, puffy clouds, gray in color. The clouds grow darker as the storm approaches. The higher the top of the upper cloud mass, known as the anvil, the more ferocious the storm when it reaches you. These are cumulonimbus clouds, better known as thunderheads.