Large boat capsizes off the coast of Louisiana leaving ‘multiple people’ in the water after being hit by ‘microburst’ storm with 75mph winds
- The U.S. Coast Guard tweeted Tuesday evening to say they were responding
- They wrote: ‘The @USCG & multiple #goodSamaritan vessels are responding to a 265-ft capsized commercial lift boat south of Grand Isle’
- It is understood a ‘microburst’ storm may have hit the vessel
- Bruce Simon said on Facebook he was out on the water; he wrote: ‘Waves are breaking over the bow. Please pray for the lost’
- Following news of the storm, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy tweeted: ‘Praying for everyone around Grand Isle and all the communities in South Louisiana’
A large boat has capsized off the coast of Louisiana leaving ‘multiple people’ in the water, according to reports.
The U.S. Coast Guard Heartland tweeted Tuesday evening: ‘The @USCG & multiple #goodSamaritan vessels are responding to a 265-ft capsized commercial lift boat south of Grand Isle.’
It is understood a ‘microburst’ storm may have hit the vessel with winds of up to 75mph.
Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Jonathan Lally told Fox8 they are searching for victims. It is unclear how many people are in the water or have been rescued.
Bruce Simon said on Facebook he was out on the water.
He wrote: ‘I’m on the boat and we doing 4 knots keeping the bow in the wind. Waves are breaking over the bow. Please pray for the lost.’
A large boat capsized off the coast of Louisiana Tuesday leaving ‘multiple people’ in the water, according to reports. Bruce Simon said he was out on the water and took these pictures
Simon wrote: ‘I’m on the boat and we doing 4 knots keeping the bow in the wind. Waves are breaking over the bow. Please pray for the lost’
According to the National Weather Service, microbursts happen when a thunderstorm begins to suspend water droplets and hail in its updraft.
Sometimes, if the updraft is strong enough, large amounts of precipitation get caught in the upper portion of the storm.
As the draft dissipates and the storm shifts, however, the droplets and hail are released, unleashing a deluge of rain and ice particles onto the ground.
In some cases, these types of storms can lead to extreme damage on the areas in which they fall.
Following news of the storm Tuesday, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy tweeted: ‘Praying for everyone around Grand Isle and all the communities in South Louisiana.
‘You can report marine distress to the Coast Guard at 504 365 2209. Please stay safe in the storm.’
The U.S. Coast Guard Heartland tweeted Tuesday evening: ‘#HappeningNow the @USCG & multiple #goodSamaritan vessels are responding to a 265-ft capsized commercial lift boat south of Grand Isle’
Senator John Kennedy tweeted Tuesday: ‘Praying for everyone around Grand Isle and all the communities in South Louisiana. Please stay safe in the storm’
On top of powerful precipitation, the microburst storms can also unleash winds up to 100 mph which is why the National Weather Service says the storm should be taken as seriously as tornado warnings.
Microbursts are typically generated by the confluence of several weather conditions including strong winds and dry air mixing and high precipitable water.
They also often occur in hot and humid summer months.
On top of powerful precipitation, microburst storms, like the one pictured here Tuesday, can also unleash winds up to 100 mph which is why the National Weather Service says the storm should be taken as seriously as tornado warnings
It is understood a ‘microburst’ storm hit the vessel with winds of up to 75mph
Microbursts are typically generated by the confluence of several weather conditions including strong winds and dry air mixing and high precipitable water. Tuesday’s water levels pictured
Adding to their potential danger, the furious storms are often difficult to predict as they form quickly and can be very fleeting, often lasting between five and 10 minutes.
‘Unfortunately, Severe Thunderstorm Warning lead times for microbursts can be very short, or there may be no warning at all,’ says the National Weather Service.
WHAT IS A ‘MICROBURST’ STORM?
A microburst is a localized column of sinking air within a thunderstorm and is usually about 2.5 miles in diameter.
Microbursts can cause extensive damage at the surface, and in some instances, can be life-threatening.
There are two primary types of microbursts, wet microbursts and, dry microbursts.
Wet microbursts are accompanied by significant precipitation and are common in the Southeast during the summer months.
It all starts with the development of a thunderstorm and the water droplets/hailstones being suspended within the updraft.
Sometimes an updraft is so strong it suspends large amounts of these droplets and hailstones in the upper portions of the thunderstorm.
According to the National Weather Service , microbursts happen when a thunderstorm begins to suspend water droplets and hail in its updraft. They can sometimes lead to extreme damage
There are many factors that can lead to evaporational cooling (sinking air) and therefore weakening of the updraft.
Once this occurs, the storm is no longer capable of holding the large core of rain/hail up in the thunderstorm.
As a result, the core plummets to the ground. As it hits the ground it spreads out in all directions.
The location in which the microburst first hits the ground experiences the highest winds and greatest damage.
Source: The National Weather Service