With thanks to Jennie P. Carr of Joplin, Missouri, the following is cellphone video hosted on YouTube of the moments leading to the sinking of the Ride the Ducks boat on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, on Thursday, July 19, 2018. The video was shot on a cellphone while aboard the Showboat Branson Belle, and it shows two Duck Boats desperately trying to reach shore. One of them didn’t make it.

The Showboat Branson Belle was moored to shore and was not moving when this event happened.
Despite Severe Thunderstorm Watches and several Severe Thunderstorm Warnings having been issued throughout the afternoon within the Springfield, Missouri County Warning Area, the operators of these boats opted to be on the water when the more-than-70 mile-per-hour straight line winds slammed into Stone and Taney Counties.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and to everyone affected by this horrible tragedy.

Folks, this is why we here at Skywarn do what we do. When warnings are issued, take cover. Yes, it’s inconvenient. Yes, warnings are issued frequently – this is the Midwest! As inconvenient as postponing or canceling something can be when a watch and/or a warning is issued, it can never be more inconvenient than something like this.