Windstorm sinks boats Friday

Gusty winds that ushered in up to five-foot waves on Flathead Lake Friday afternoon caused a flurry of trouble for several boats on the water at around 6 p.m.

“There were several boats in distress,” Don Bell, Lake County Sheriff said.

Two of the boat rescues took place on the water between Big Arm State Park and Wild Horse Island. 

One of those boats capsized in the weather and left two occupants standing on what remained above water, Bell said.

The second Big Arm State Park/Wild Horse Island distress call was logged shortly thereafter. But before emergency responders could get to their location, a private boater arrived on scene and towed the distressed boat and its occupants to the shore.

Another set of boat-related emergencies occurred closer to Bigfork where a catamaran capsized. Rescuers were able to reach the occupants of that boat and transport them to shore. In another incident two boys were rescued from a sinking boat and were dropped at a private home on one of the islands.

No fatalities were reported in any of the boat rescues. 

A Lake Wind Advisory was in effect at the time of the windstorm that predicted waves of up to four feet on the lake.